ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the use of medicinal plants and concomitant use of pharmaceutical drugs among pregnant women in Addis Ababa and Bati, Ethiopia. METHODS: Six hundred pregnant women in three health centers in Addis Ababa and one health center in Bati were included in the study from July 2016 to September 2016. Data were collected through structured questionnaires. Pregnant women were interviewed about use of medicinal plants during pregnancy and attitudes toward such use, as well as use of pharmaceutical drugs during pregnancy. Specific questions were asked regarding 10 medicinal plants commonly used in Ethiopia and the treatment of 15 common disorders during pregnancy. Women's perspectives were assessed by eight statements from the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire-general and five pregnancy-specific statements. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between maternal sociodemographic factors and the use of medicinal plants during pregnancy. RESULTS: A total of 360 (60.0%) women used medicinal plants during their pregnancy, most commonly Ocimum lamiifolium (basil) (37.2%) and Zingiber officinale (ginger) (36.7%). The most common reasons for use were common cold, headache, and "mitch." Most women (93.9%) did not disclose their use of medicinal plants to their health care providers. Concomitant use of medicinal plants and pharmaceutical drugs occurred among 11.0%, 11.5%, and 7.5% of women in the first, second, and third trimester, respectively. Age and marital status were significantly associated with the use of medicinal plants. Pregnant women seemed to have a more positive attitude toward pharmaceutical drugs than medicinal plants. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed extensive use of medicinal plants during pregnancy in Addis Ababa and Bati, Ethiopia. Collaboration between health workers and traditional practitioners on the safe use of medicinal plants is important to promote safer pregnancies and better health care for pregnant women and their unborn infants in Ethiopia.
