Plantes et prise en charge de la santé maternelle dans la région Maritime du Togo / Plants and mother's healthcare in the Maritime Region of Togo

Contexte et objectifs. La santé maternelle demeure un problème de santé majeur dans les pays en voie de développement. La présente étude a : (i) inventorié les divers maux bénins de la santé maternelle ; (ii) recensé les plantes utilisées dans la prise en charge de ces troubles ; (iii) décrit les diverses formes d'usages des plantes utilisées et (iv) évalué la variation des connaissances d'usages suivant le sexe, l'âge et l'ethnie. Méthodes. Des enquêtes ethnobotaniques couplées aux observations de terrain ont été réalisées dans la région Maritime du Togo en milieu rural auprès des populations rurales. L'analyse des données s'est basée sur les fréquences (Fr), les valeurs d'usages (VU), les indices de diversité d'usage (IDU), les indices de valeurs d'importance d'usage (IVIU) et l'indice de Sorenson (IS). Résultats. Une florule de 127 espèces végétales dont 126 plantes réparties en 112 genres et 57 familles et un champignon a été rapportée. Les Euphorbiaceae, les Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae, les Asteraceae et les Leguminosae-Papilionoideae sont les familles les plus signalées dans la prise en charge de 37 affections. Conclusion. A l'issue de cette étude, plus d'une centaine de plantes utilisées dans les pathologies maternales et foetales a été identifiée. Cependant, l'évaluation de l'efficacité ainsi que des tests toxicologiques sont nécessaires pour une meilleure valorisation des plantes rapportées

Context and objectives. Maternal healthcare remain a major health problem in developing countries. The present study (i) inventoried various benign conditions of maternal health, (ii) identified plant species used in the management of these conditions, (iii) described the various types of use of these plants, and (iv) evaluated the levels of knowledge on the use of plant species in the care of the pregnant and nursing women according to the gender, age and ethnic group. Methods. Semi-structured interviews coupled to field observations were carried out in the Maritime region of Togo among local populations. Data analysis was based on the computation of relative frequencies (Fr), the use values (UV), the diversity use index (DUI), the index of important use values (IIUV) and the Sorenson index (SI). Résultats. A flower of 127 plan species including 126 plants divided into 112 genera and 57 families and one fungus has been reported Euphorbiaceae, Leguminosae- Caesalpinioideae, Asteraceae and Leguminosae- Papilionoideae were mostly used in the management of 37 conditions. Conclusion. This study identified more than one hundred plants species used in women's health-related disorders. Additional studies, including efficacy and toxicological tests are needed for better to promote these folk medicine practices

Community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude and practices towards the use of complementary and alternative medicines in Durban, South Africa

Background: Atopic eczema (AE) is a common skin disease with an increasing worldwide prevalence, which has almost doubled over the last decade in South Africa. Many patients commonly explore complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) for AE and often initially seek advice from their local pharmacists.Aim: To explore the knowledge, attitude and practices amongst community pharmacists regarding CAM.Setting: The study was conducted amongst pharmacists working in community pharmacies in Durban, South Africa.Methods: During 2016, a cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 158 randomly selected pharmacists, of which 82 responded. Respondents were sent an email with a link to the questionnaire. Where logistically possible, questionnaires were hand-delivered.Results: The majority of respondents were male (n = 46; 56%), aged between 31 and 40 years. Despite most pharmacists not being familiar with various CAMs for AE, many (43%) recommend them, and 50% were amenable to referring patients to CAM practitioners. Despite 51% reporting that patients do ask about CAM for AE, 54% are not confident discussing or initiating discussions with patients. More than half of the pharmacists (55%) had no CAM training but believed it is essential for inclusion in the undergraduate pharmacy curriculum. Most were interested in broadening their knowledge on CAM and felt it would better prepare them in counselling their patients.Conclusions: The study demonstrated poor knowledge and communication about CAM for AE between pharmacists and patients, although pharmacists exhibited strong interests in learning more about CAM. There is a continuing need for education programmes and inclusion into undergraduate curricula that would assist pharmacists to advise patients on different types of CAMs

Perceived effectiveness of complementary medicine by mothers of infants with colic in Gauteng

Background: Infantile colic is a self-limiting condition, characterised by spasmodic, excessive and inconsolable crying without apparent cause. Although common, there is no widely accepted conventional treatment approach for colic. Complementary medicine is often promoted as an alternative therapeutic option for infantile colic; however, there is limited research available on its use, safety and effectiveness. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the perceived effectiveness of complementary medicine by mothers of infants with colic by means of the Infantile Colic Questionnaire. Setting: Mothers of infants who had colic were recruited from complementary medicine pharmacies, schools, baby clinics and various businesses in Gauteng, South Africa. Methods: A quantitative-descriptive design was used whereby data was collected through a randomised, cross-sectional questionnaire. The research sample consisted of 152 participants (mothers), aged between 18 and 45 years, with one or more children who suffered from symptoms of infantile colic, who had used complementary medicine as a form of treatment. Results: Results indicated that most participants made use of both complementary and conventional medicines for their infant's colic; the most commonly used complementary medicine products were homeopathic remedies, probiotics and herbal medicines. Some participants were, however, unfamiliar with the term 'complementary medicine', indicating a need for further patient education. Conclusions: The participants perceived complementary medicines as safe and effective forms of treatment for infantile colic. However, further, larger scale studies should be conducted to validate this finding

The legislative and regulatory framework governing herbal medicine use and practice in Kenya: a review

Complementary and alternative medicine is an integral component of primary healthcare in Kenya. This is because the infrastructural health setup in the country is inadequate in catering for all the medical needs of the population. This particularly holds true in the rural areas where many rural folk rely on products of herbal origin to offset their healthcare needs. More often than not these products are an elaborate cacophony of several different substances of biological origin and thus need personnel adept in their preparation. Sadly, due to loopholes in legislation and regulation, quacks have a field day in the practice. Moreover, the process of planting, harvesting, preparation and storage of herbs and related products dictates that a significant number of people will ultimately be involved in the whole process. This is likely to set the stage for manipulation and compromise of the safety, quality and efficacy of these products. This state of affairs appears unabated especially in the context of the current legal and regulatory framework governing herbal medicine use and practice in Kenya. Not only are these laws inadequate, they are shrouded in ambiguity, open to interpretation and the authorities mandated to implement them often end up performing duplicate roles. The aim of this review is to critique the legal and regulatory provisions governing herbal medicine use and practice in Kenya. In conclusion, laws and regulations meant to control herbal medicine use and practice in Kenya are wanting. Clear and definitive legislation on herbal medicine use and practice coupled with effective implementation by mandated institutions will go a long way in inspiring confidence to all stakeholders of herbal medicine

Complementary and alternative therapies for premenstrual syndrome: an exploratory study

Background: Data related to the use of complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) for premenstrual syndrome in the communities is scarce. There is very limited information about complementary and alternative therapies practice among nursing students in Dakhalia governorate,Egypt.Methods: A descriptive exploratory design was conducted in Dakahlia governorate, Egypt, on all secondary technical nursing schools students to explore the use of complementary and alternative therapies to relieve premenstrual syndrome. A sample of 1120 students was included. A structured self-administered questionnaire (Arabic language) was used for data collection in the period of March to May, 2014. Results: Most of the study subjects (87.0%) used CAT to minimize symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Herbal therapy was the most commonly used as CAT followed by hydrotherapy, changing food types, massage and exercise. Conclusion: The majority of girls used CAT to minimize PMS. The greater part of students used herbal therapy to relieve their symptoms, followed by hydrotherapy; food Change; massage; and exercise

A qualitative study of healthcare professionals' perceived trust in and willingness to recommend alternative medicines for the management of diabetes mellitus

This small qualitative study; conducted through the University of Mauritius; examined healthcare professionals' engagement with and willingness to recommend alternative therapies (AT) for adjunctive management of diabetes; particularly type 2 diabetes. Fifteen (15) healthcare practitioners were selected to participate; completing a questionnaire regarding their opinions about the appropriateness of AT to support type 2 diabetes patients. The results highlight nutritionists' and dieticians' relative familiarity with AT; for personal use and with clinic patients. However; nurses and medical doctors were often sceptical; unwilling to discuss or recommend AT; and knew little about potential benefits. There appears an emerging need to improve training of Mauritian healthcare professionals regarding AT; to improve their ability to provide up-to-date clinical information to the many diabetic patients in the community who often use AT

Safety Perception and Knowledge of Commonly Used Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Physicians in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto; North-Western Nigeria

Background: Knowledge and safety perception of physicians concerning commonly used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) may have influence on decisions of treatment and life of patients. This study determined the knowledge and safety perception of CAM among physicians in an Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH); a tertiary institution in Sokoto; North-Western Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A survey based on an anonymous questionnaire was performed among 221 doctors of UDUTH Sokoto; North-Western Nigeria using a 30-item validated questionnaire to examine their level of awareness and safety perception on CAM. Results: The lifetime prevalence of CAM use among doctors was 69.3 while current CAM use was about 12. About half (47.5) of the doctors think CAM use is unsafe. About 84.6; 86.4; and 64.3 of doctors think CAM use can cause adverse reactions/side effects; drug interactions; and noncompliance; respectively. Residents/consultants (84.5) were more likely to correctly identify the standard definitions of CAM compared with house officers/medical officers (77.3) (P = 0.02). A significantly higher percentage of consultants/residents were found to associate the use of CAM with poor adherence to conventional drugs compared with HO/MO (P = 0.02). Conclusion: This study demonstrates high degree of concern about the safety of CAM as it relates to adverse reactions/side effects; drug interactions; and noncompliance to orthodox medicine among physicians in UDUTH. There was an acceptable level of knowledge of CAM

Facilitating Nurses' Knowledge of the Utilisation of Reflexology in Adults with Chronic Diseases to Enable Informed Health Education during Comprehensive Nursing Care

An integrative literature review of identified scientific evidence; published from January 2000 to December 2008; of the utilisation of reflexology as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities to promote well-being and quality of life in adults with chronic diseases was done to facilitate nurses to give informed health education during comprehensive nursing care to patients with chronic diseases. Selected accessible databases were searched purposefully for research articles (N = 1171). Pre-set inclusion criteria were applied during the study selection process. The methodological study quality was reviewed and appraised with appropriate tools from the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) and the American Dietetic Association's (ADA) Evidence analysis manual (n = 21). Evidence extraction; analysis and synthesis of studies (n = 18) were done through the evidence class rating and level of strength as prescribed in the manuals of ADA and CASP. Findings indicate statistically significant reduction in the frequency of seizures in patients with intractable epilepsy; an improvement of sensory and urinary symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis and clinically significant reduction of anxiety and pain in patients with cancer and fibromyalgia syndrome. These findings can be utilised by nurses to inform patients with these chronic diseases about alternative ways of treatment

Antiretrovirals and the use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine by HIV patients in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa: a longitudinal study

Abstract: The aim of this prospective study (20 months) was to assess HIV patients' use of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) and its effect on ARV adherence at three public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Seven hundred and thirty-five (29.8% male and 70.2% female) patients who consecutively attended three HIV clinics completed assessments prior to ARV initiation, 519 after 6 months, 557 after 12 and 499 after 20 months on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Results indicate that following initiation of ARV therapy the use of herbal therapies for HIV declined significantly from 36.6% prior to ARV therapy to 8.0% after 6 months, 4.1% after 12 months and 0.6% after 20 months on ARVs. Faith healing methods (including spiritual practices and prayer) declined from 35.8% to 22.1%, 20.8% and 15.5%, respectively. In contrast, the use of micronutrients (vitamins, etc.) significantly increased from 42.6% to 78.2%. The major herbal remedies that were used prior to ART were unnamed traditional medicine, followed by imbiza (Scilla natalensis planch), canova (immune booster), izifozonke (essential vitamins mixed with herbs), African potato (Hypoxis hemerocallidea), stametta (aloe mixed with vitamins and herbs) and ingwe (tonic). Herbal remedies were mainly used for pain relief, as immune booster and for stopping diarrhea. As herbal treatment for HIV was associated with reduced ARV adherence, patient's use of TCAM should be considered in ARV adherence management

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Diabetes Mellitus

"BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM); an emerging aspect of the management of chronic diseases worldwide is not widely studied in Nigerian patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency and pattern of CAM utilization in people with DM . METHODS: This was a cross-sectional question-naire survey involving 263 patients with DM. Biodata; duration of DM; type and pattern of CAM utilization and adherence to prescribed medications were documented. The prevalence and possible determinants of CAM utilization were evaluated by determining the odds ratio for independent variables. RESULTS: There were 263 respondents with a mean age of 60 (10.7) years and with ages ranging from 28-80 years. The prevalence of CAM usage was 46and the female: male ratio was 2:1. Generally; CAM users were older than non-CAM users; (p= 0.006). The main forms of CAM used were biological based therapies and these included bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina); aloe vera; garlic; ginger; and ""local herbs"". Adherence to prescribed medications was observed by 94of respondents. CONCLUSION: We found that CAM usage is an important facet of management of DM among our patients with biological based therapies being the prevalent forms of CAM utilized. Despite CAM usage; adherence to prescribed medications was high. Further evaluation of the impact of CAM on glycaemia is needed."

Some diseases and their treatments

"Onwuejeogwu and Okoro recognized three categories of traditional medical practitioners according to their specific functions: 1. ""Dibia Afa"" - specialist in the processes of divination. They were essentially priests who attributed their successes to the ""voices"" of deities (arusi); ancestors or spirit (mmuo) in response to incantations and the throwing of ""afa seeds""."

"The alternative ""traditional medicine"" Clinical psychiatric encounters with syncretic church"

The growing influence of the syncretic churches; and their predominant interest in healing the sick; make it essential that medical research interest be directed at their healing practices. In particular; the interactions of psychologically ill patients and/or their relations with these churches frequently pose problems in the management of these patients in hospitals; and disrupt family harmony. Illustrative clinical cases are given to highlight these problems; and possible areas of co-operation in health care delivery are pointed out