Use Of Traditional Medicine In The Treatment Of Malaria Among Pregnant Women
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Use Of Traditional Medicine In The Treatment Of Malaria Among Pregnant Women
INTRODUCTION
Malaria is a life-threatening parasite disease spread by female Anopheles mosquitos. Malaria accounts for approximately 60% of outpatient visits to health institutions in Nigeria, 30% of childhood fatalities, 25% of deaths in children under the age of one, and 11% of maternal mortality (National Population Commission, 2008; Noland et al., 2014).
Similarly, malaria affects around 70% of pregnant women, leading to maternal anaemia, low birth weight, stillbirths, abortions, and other pregnancy-related problems (Federal Ministry of Health Abuja, 2005).
Malaria remains one of the most serious threats to tropical regions in the world. It is a lethal and crippling disease that has a negative impact on the physical and economic well-being of people in Africa’s endemic areas (WHO, 2008).
Pregnant women are among the highest risk groups (Okwa, 2003). According to a recent global estimate, malaria causes between 300 and 500 million clinical cases and 1.50 million to 2.70 million fatalities per year (Greenwood, 2005).
Pregnant women are most vulnerable to malaria due to the natural immune suppression that occurs during pregnancy. As a result, it is one of the most serious health concerns for pregnant women because it has the potential to endanger the woman’s or the foetus’ lives (WHO, 2010).
Traditional herbal medicine can be defined as “herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations, and finished herbal products containing active ingredients from plants, other plant materials, or combinations.” Herbal medicines might take the shape of liquids, powders, capsules, tablets, or ointments.
Some are pre-packaged, while others are created as needed and used not only to treat illness, but also to maintain or improve one’s health (WHO, 2002). Herbal medicine is widely used in Africa, and it is becoming more popular worldwide.
Most pregnant women assume that these remedies are ‘natural’ and’safe’ when compared to modern medications. Furthermore, traditional medicine is thought to address medical problems and promote health during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care in many rural communities (Khadivzadeh and Ghabel, 2012).
Erhun, Agbani, and Adesanya (2004) concluded that many pregnant women who engage in such practices learn about it from family, neighbours, acquaintances, traditional medicine merchants, and, in certain cases, the media.
The situation is exacerbated by a lack of antenatal health delivery centres and functional health institutions (Rohra, 2008); poor medical services and attitudes of medical staff; a lack of professional control over pharmaceutical products (Abrahams and Jewkes, 2002); and a high illiteracy level and cost of synthetic malaria medicine compared to traditional orthodox ones (Dossou-Yov, 2001).
Furthermore, several factors such as the socioeconomic status of the women, poverty issues, cultural perception, age, sex, income level, religion and belief of certain diseases’ entities, and their perceived responses to indigenous medications have been widely reported as indicators that influence their attitude (WHO, 2002).
As a result, herbal traditional medication for curing malaria has become a norm and is widely practised and patronised by pregnant women owing to general ease.
Kyomuhendo (2005) observed that pregnant women’s decisions on health and antenatal care attendance are influenced by society’s patriarchal system, which gives males control over resources at the expense of women.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the usage of traditional medicine in malaria therapy among pregnant women in Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria.
Statement of the Problem
Malaria infection during pregnancy is a major public health issue in tropical and subtropical countries worldwide, particularly in Nigeria. Malaria infection during pregnancy is primarily caused by Plasmodium falciparum, Africa’s most frequent malaria species (WHO, 2010).
Pregnant women and their unborn children are especially vulnerable to malaria, which is a leading cause of prenatal mortality, low birth weight, and maternal anaemia (Greenwood, 2007). Malaria during pregnancy exacerbates or causes anaemia
which, when severe, increases the risk of maternal death (estimated at around 10,000 deaths per year), low birth weight (linked to approximately 100,000 infant deaths per year in Africa), pre-term delivery, congenital infection, and reproductive loss, all of which are associated with high morbidity and mortality (Fakeye, 2009).
There have been several reports of poor understanding, attitudes, and actions among pregnant women regarding malaria and its control from various parts of Africa. The illness remains the world’s most serious tropical health issue.
Many malaria-endemic areas have limited access to medical care, and even when medical services do exist, they frequently lack laboratory testing and treatment options. This forces pregnant women to employ a variety of chemicals and traditional remedies to treat malaria.
The purpose of the study
The study’s main goal is to investigate the use of traditional medicine in the treatment of malaria among pregnant women in Abraka, Delta State. However, the precise objective includes;
1. Determine the impact of socioeconomic status on pregnant women’s use of traditional herbs for malaria therapy.
2. Determine how pregnant women’s ages influence their use of traditional herbs for malaria therapy.
3. Determine the extent to which pregnant women’s level of education influences their usage of traditional herbs to treat malaria.
4. To investigate the extent to which pregnant women’s locality influences their usage of locally sourced herbs for malaria therapy.
Research Question
This study addressed the following research questions:
1. How does socioeconomic status affect the usage of traditional herbs in the treatment of malaria among pregnant women?
2. What is the age difference between pregnant women who use traditional herbs to cure malaria?
3. How does the level of education of pregnant women affect their usage of traditional herbs for malaria treatment?
4. How does the usage of traditional herbs for malaria therapy differ depending on where pregnant women live?
Research Hypotheses
The following null hypotheses were developed during the study:
1. There is no significant difference in the socioeconomic position of pregnant women in Abraka who utilise traditional medicine to treat malaria.
2. There is no significant age difference in the usage of traditional medicine for malaria treatment among pregnant women in Abraka.
3. There is no significant difference in the use of traditional medicine to treat malaria among pregnant women in Abraka based on their level of education.
4. There is no substantial difference between urban and rural areas in the use of traditional medicine for malaria treatment by pregnant women in Abraka.
This study’s conclusions would be valuable to pregnant women, ministries of health, parastatals, health sectors, policymakers, and the government.
The study aims to help pregnant women establish a positive attitude towards antenatal care and understand the potential risks of using traditional herbal medication for malaria prevention and treatment.
· Health practitioners can benefit from this study by providing better care and planning for pregnant women attending prenatal clinics for malaria treatment.
This study will inform ministries of health about the use of traditional herbal medicine for malaria treatment among pregnant women attending antenatal care. Enlightenment programs can be organised to improve pregnant women’s attitudes towards frequent antenatal clinics.
This study will assist policymakers in developing malaria prevention policies and making educated decisions to improve prenatal care attendance among pregnant women at River State Teaching Hospital.
· Government: This study can educate government and parastatals on the importance of providing a concerted health education intervention to improve the attitude and knowledge of pregnant women regarding poor health seeking behaviour and adequate malaria prevention strategies, including the use of insecticides, treated nets, and adequate funding, to control and reduce the incidence of malaria in the general population.
The study’s scope is limited to the use of traditional medicine in the treatment of malaria among pregnant women in Abraka Delta State, Nigeria. The researcher would select this location because it is conveniently accessible
students are sent there for clinical experiences, and cases are referred from primary and secondary health care institutions to the institution for expert management.
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