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Prevalence, patterns and beliefs about the use of herbal medicinal products in Ghana: a multi‐centre community‐based cross‐sectional study
Author(s) -
Kretchy Irene A.,
Koduah Augustina,
Opuni Kwabena F. M.,
Agyabeng Kofi,
OheneAgyei Thelma,
Boafo Eugene A.,
Ntow Prisca O.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.13541
Subject(s) - marital status , cross sectional study , environmental health , traditional medicine , medicine , developing country , population , biology , ecology , pathology
Objective Worldwide, herbal medicinal products (HMPs) play key roles in healthcare systems, especially in developing countries, yet there is inconsistent evidence about their prevalence and patterns of use in Ghana. This study therefore sought to determine the prevalence, patterns and beliefs about the use of HMPs in Ghana. Methods A descriptive community‐based cross‐sectional survey was conducted using a researcher‐administered questionnaire on 1364 adults, selected from five communities for each of the ecological zones in Ghana using a multi‐stage sampling procedure. The study was conducted between December 2019 and March 2020. Results The prevalence of ever use of HMPs was 76.5% with 73.0% of respondents using these products within the past year. Almost 60% of respondents reported using HMPs that were registered by the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority. About 56.7% used these products to cure diseases. All the sociodemographic characteristics (age, religion, marital status, educational level and employment status) except for sex were significantly associated with the use of HMPs ( P < 0.001). For beliefs about HMPs, the proportion of respondents classified to be accepting , ambivalent , indifferent and sceptical was 14.3%, 25.2%, 47.5% and 13.07%, respectively. About 62.2% of study participants had plans to use HMPs in the future, and 69.1% were willing to encourage others to use such products. However, 51.6% of the participants did not perceive HMPs as more effective and safe compared with orthodox products. Conclusion The prevalence of use of HMPs in Ghana is high, thus suggesting an appropriate public health policy to improve the regulation of these products and also provide basis for the integration of HMPs into the healthcare system in Ghana.