KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF HERBAL REMEDIES FOR TREATMENT OF CHILDHOOD DISEASES AMONG MOTHERS OF UNDER-5-CHILDREN IN ONA-ARA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE

Abstract

Herbal Remedies (HR) have been used for medicinal purposes for decades. High dependence on use of HR has been one of the major reasons for delay in presenting disease cases which results in high morbidity and mortality among Under-5-children (U5C). Earlier studies of HR use in Oyo State were focused on pregnant women and there is dearth of research on use of HR among mothers of U5C. This study was designed to determine the knowledge and use of HR for treatment of childhood diseases among mothers of U5C in Ona-Ara Local Government Area. Oyo State. The study was analytical cross-sectional in design. A three-stage sampling technique was used to select wards, communities and 400 consenting respondents. Mixed methods FGD and Questionnaire were used for data collection. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on respondents' socio-demographic characteristics and use of HR. Knowledge of HR used was measured on a 14-point scale; scores ≤7 and >7 were categorised as poor and good, respectively. Perception of HR was measured on a 14-point scale; scores ≤7 and >7 were classified as negative and positive, respectively. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and logistic regression model at p= 0.05. Eight Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and eight in-depth Interviews (IDIs) were conducted on the use of HR and were analysed thematically. Respondents' age was 30.4±7.6 years and parity was 2.2±1.1. Few (34.0%) had one child, 26.9% were self-employed and 45% had secondary education. Almost all (96.0%) ever used HR to treat their children in the 2 weeks preceding the study. Half (50.0%) and 31.0% used HR to treat malaria and haemorrhoids respectively. Respondents' knowledge score was 3.3±0.5. Majority (84.0%) and 16.2% had poor and good knowledge use of HR, respectively. Above half (54.4%) had taken their U5C to health facility to see a health worker when sick and out of these, 40.6% took them immediately symptoms were noticed, while 40.0% when the illnesses became critical. Few (29.3%) of the respondents combined HR with conventional medicine, out of these, 26.4% did because, HR was affordable. Respondents’ perceptions score was 3.4±1.2. Majority (85.2%) had negative perception towards the use of HR for treatment of childhood diseases. Proportion of mothers that used HR was significantly higher among those with no formal education (51.2%) compared to those with formal education (48.8%). Significantly more mothers with more than one U5C (96.2%) used HR for treatment of childhood diseases compared to mothers with one child (3.8%). Mothers with more than one U5C were more likely to use HR compared with those with one U5C (OR: 2.5= CI= 2.3-4.2). Majority of the FGD and IDI participants reported HR to be very effective. Knowledge of herbal remedies for treatment of childhood diseases among mothers of under-5-children was poor but use was widespread by mothers in LGA. Respondents' perception toward herbal remedies was negative. Health education interventions such as posters on dangers of using herbal remedies among mothers of under-5-children should be promoted in the study area.