Titilayo O. Fakeye|Rasaq Adisa|Ismail E Musa
Attitude and use of herbal medicines among pregnant women in Nigeria
University of Ibadan|University of Ibadan
use herbal medicines among pregnant women nigeria widely studiedopinion 595 pregnant women three geopolitical zones nigeria use herbal medicines safety usage knowledge potential effects herbal remedies fetus potential benefits harms may derived combining herbal remedies conventional therapies obtained using structured questionnaire september 2007 march 2008 descriptive statistics fishers exact tests used 95 confidence level evaluate data obtained level significance set p005more twothird respondents 675 used herbal medicines crude forms pharmaceutical prepackaged dosage forms 743 preferring selfprepared formulations almost 30 using herbal medicine time study believed use herbal medicines pregnancy safe respondents reasons taking herbal medications varied included reasons herbs better efficacy conventional medicines 224 herbs natural safer use pregnancy conventional medicines 211 low efficacy conventional medicines 197 easier access herbal medicines 112 traditional cultural belief herbal medicines cure many illnesses 125 comparatively low cost herbal medicines 59 half respondents 566 support combining herbal medicines conventional drugs forestall drugherb interaction 334 respondents believed herbal medicines possess adverse effects 181 304 opinion adverseside effects herbal medicines could dangerous marital status geopolitical zones educational qualification respondents statistically significant effects respondents views side effects herbal medicines p005 geopolitical zones educational qualifications seemed influence respondents opinion harmful effects herbal medicines fetus p005the study emphasized wide spread use herbal medicines pregnant women nigeria highlighting urgent need health care practitioners health care givers aware practice make efforts obtaining information herb use antenatal care help forestall possible interaction herbal conventional medicines