The Study of Pattern of Use of Orthodox and Herbal Medicine among Non-academic Staff of a Nigerian University
Ajoke Constance Akanmu *
Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria and University of Lagos Medical Centre, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria.
Kofowora Abimbola Odeyemi
Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: To study the pattern of use of orthodox and herbal medicine among non-academic staff of a Nigerian University.
Study Design: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which a multistage sampling technique was employed.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the main campus of University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos State, Nigeria between January and June, 2017.
Methods: A total of 425 respondents were recruited in this investigation. Information gathered through the use of structured self-administered questionnaire was subjected to descriptive analysis.
Results: Hypertension (39.81%) was the common health condition recorded. Only 42.8% of the population sampled visits clinic when sick, 33.41% engage in orthodox self-medication, 19.4% practice herbal self-medication while 3.8% consults herbal practitioners for treatments. A total of 42.2% respondents do combine herbal and orthodox medicine to achieve better cure (60.7%) or quick recovery (38%). More than 87% had history of herbal medicine use, in treating ailments such as malaria and pile (78.3%) while 21.1% used both orthodox and herbal treatment simultaneously. 54% showed preference for orthodox drugs compared to 46% that preferred herbal treatments. The respondents were mostly introduced to the use of herbal medicine by family (44.2%) and friends (15.5%). However, 76.7.5% was optimistic of possible drug interaction in the combined herbal and orthodox drugs use but only 12.1% intimated their doctors of the initial herbal medicine used.
Conclusion: This study showed the practice of combined herbal-orthodox drug use among the participants, despite their knowledge of the associated risk. Therefore, there is need to further educate the populace about the health risk of herbal-orthodox drug combination while the health professionals have to proactively enquire and counsel patients regarding the potentials of adverse effect, drug toxicities and drug interaction.
Keywords: Herbal-orthodox drug, drug combination, drug interaction, adverse effect.