THE USE OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN THE TREATMENT OF MALARIA AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN

THE USE OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN THE TREATMENT OF MALARIA AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN

INTRODUCTION

Malaria is a potentially fatal parasite disease spread by female Anopheles mosquitos. Malaria accounts for approximately 60% of out-patient visits to health institutions in Nigeria, 30% of childhood fatalities, 25% of mortality in children under one year old, and 11% of maternal deaths (National Population Commission, 2008; Noland et al., 2014). Similarly, malaria affects around 70% of pregnant women, contributing to maternal anemia, low birth weight, stillbirths, abortions, and other pregnancy-related problems (Federal Ministry of Health Abuja, 2005).

Malaria is still one of the world’s most serious threats to tropical regions. It is a lethal and crippling disease that has a negative impact on the physical and economic well-being of individuals living in endemic parts of Africa (WHO, 2008). Pregnant women are among those at greater risk (Okwa, 2003). According to Greenwood (2005), there are between 300 and 500 million clinical cases of malaria each year, with 1.50 to 2.70 million deaths attributable to malaria. Due to natural immunological suppression during pregnancy, pregnant women are at a high risk of malaria (Fievet, 2008). As a result, it is one of the most critical health conditions affecting pregnant women since it has the potential to endanger the woman’s or the fetus’s life (WHO, 2010).

Herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations, and completed herbal products containing active substances, portions of plants, or other plant materials, or mixtures are examples of traditional herbal medicine. Herbal remedies come as liquids, powders, capsules, pills, and ointments. Some are pre-packaged, while others are prepared as needed, and are used to not only cure illness, but also to maintain or improve one’s health (WHO, 2002). The use of herbal remedies is quite common in Africa, and the global use of herbal medicine is increasing. Most pregnant women assume that traditional medications are more ‘natural’ and’safe’ than modern drugs. Furthermore, in many rural communities, traditional medicine is thought to alleviate medical problems and enhance health status throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care (Khadivzadeh and Ghabel, 2012).

According to Erhun, Agbani, and Adesanya (2004), many pregnant women who engage in such practices learn about it from family, neighbors, acquaintances, traditional medicine merchants, and, in certain cases, the media (Shah, 2004). The situation is exacerbated by a lack of antenatal health delivery centers and functional health institutions (Rohra, 2008); poor medical services and attitudes of medical staff; a lack of professional control of pharmaceutical products (Abrahams and Jewkes, 2002); and the high cost of synthetic malaria medicine over traditional orthodox ones (Dossou-Yov, 2001).

Furthermore, several factors such as women’s socioeconomic status, poverty issues, cultural perception, age, sex, income level, religion and belief in the entity of certain diseases, and their perceived responses to indigenous medications have been widely reported as indicators that influence their attitude (WHO, 2002).

According to Kyomuhendo (2005), pregnant women’s decisions about health and antenatal care attendance are influenced by society’s patriarchal system, which gives males control over resources to the detriment of women. The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of traditional medicine in the treatment of malaria among pregnant women in Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria.

Statement of the Issue

Malaria infection during pregnancy is a major public health issue in tropical and subtropical countries around the world, particularly in Nigeria. Plasmodium falciparum, the most common malaria species in Africa, is primarily responsible for the burden of malaria infection during pregnancy (WHO, 2010). Malaria is a major cause of prenatal death, poor birth weight, and maternal anaemia in pregnant women and their unborn children (Greenwood, 2007). Malaria during pregnancy exacerbates or causes anaemia, which, if severe, increases the risk of maternal death (estimated at around 10,000 deaths per year), low birth weight (linked to around 100,000 infant deaths per year in Africa), pre-term delivery, congenital infection, and reproductive loss, all of which are associated with significant morbidity and mortality (Fakeye, 2009).

There have been numerous reports from various parts of Africa about pregnant women’s lack of awareness, attitudes, and practices regarding malaria and its control. The illness is the world’s most serious tropical health threat. In many malaria-endemic communities, access to medical care is restricted, and where medical services do exist, they frequently lack equipment for laboratory diagnosis and treatment options. This forces pregnant women to use various chemicals and traditional plants to treat malaria.

The Goal of the Research

The study’s major goal is to look into the usage of traditional medicine in the treatment of malaria among pregnant women in Abraka, Delta State. While the precise purpose consists of;

1. To ascertain the impact of socioeconomic status on the usage of traditional herbs in the treatment of malaria in pregnant women.

2. To examine the extent to which pregnant women’s age influences 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 for malaria therapy.

4. To investigate the extent to which pregnant women’s location influences their use of locally manufactured herbs for malaria therapy.

Question for Research

This study raised the following research questions:

1. How does socioeconomic status affect the usage of traditional herbs in the treatment of malaria in pregnant women?

2. What is the age difference among pregnant women who utilize traditional herbs for malaria treatment?

3. What is the difference in the educational level of pregnant women in the usage of traditional herbs for malaria treatment?

4. What is the difference in the usage of traditional herbs for malaria therapy among pregnant women based on their location?

Hypotheses for Research

In the study, the following null hypotheses were proposed:

1. There is no significant difference in the use of traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria among pregnant women in Abraka according on socioeconomic status.

2. There is no significant age difference in the usage of traditional medicine for malaria treatment by pregnant women in Abraka.

3. There is no significant difference in the use of traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria among pregnant women in Abraka based on educational level.

4. There is no substantial variation in the use of traditional medicine by pregnant women in Abraka between urban and rural areas.

Pregnant women, ministries of health, parastatals, health sectors, policymakers, and the government will benefit from the findings of this study.

Women: the study will assist them in developing a favorable attitude toward antenatal care and the potential risks associated with the use of traditional herbal medicine in malaria prevention and treatment among pregnant women.

Health practitioners would benefit from this study because it will assist them in providing sufficient care and planning for pregnant women visiting prenatal clinics who are being treated for malaria.

Ministries: This study would be of great importance to ministries of health by informing them on the importance of this study is to address the issue of pregnant women attending antenatal care’s attitude toward the use of traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of malaria and to organize enlightenment programs aimed at improving pregnant women’s attitudes toward frequent antenatal clinics.

Policymakers: This study will assist policymakers in developing suitable malaria prevention strategies and making educated judgments on how to increase prenatal care attendance levels among pregnant women attending Teaching Hospital in River State.

Government: This study would benefit the government and parastatals by educating them on the importance of providing a coordinated health education intervention to improve pregnant women’s attitudes and knowledge about poor health seeking behavior and adequate malaria prevention strategies, particularly the use of insecticide, treated nets, adequate funding, and other measures necessary for controlling and reducing the incidence of malaria in the general public.

The focus of the study is confined to the use of traditional medicine to treat malaria in pregnant women in Abraka Delta State, Nigeria. The researcher would choose this location because it is easily accessible, and students are sent there for clinical experiences, and cases are referred to the institution from primary and secondary health institutions for expert management.