Use of Traditional Herbal Medicine by AIDS Patients in Kabarole District, Western Uganda
Ana Elizabeth Hamp
Biology Laboratory
Salt Lake Community College
2012
Use of Traditional Herbal Medicine by AIDS Patients in Kabarole District, Western Uganda
The objective of the investigation is to determine how the use and intake of Traditional
Herbal Medicine (THM) interferes with conventional medical care (CMC), in patients with
AIDS. Investigators tried to identify the intake frequency of traditional herbal medicine in
patients, the difference between this medicine and the antiretroviral therapy (ART), if there are
some drug interactions or if the two combined are successfully an option to treat the virus.
Simultaneously, the research determined the reliability in the effectiveness of traditional
herbal medicine among patients to treat the virus compared to the pharmaceutical antiretroviral
therapy. The main objectives were to identify the frequency of THM use, examine the contrast
between the use of THM and ART therapy, and seek for possible factors associated with THM
and drug interactions.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS. The virus attacks the immune
system and leaves the body vulnerable to a variety of life-threatening infections and cancers.
(PubMed health ). The materials used were, population of Kabarole District, using systematic
sampling, from three hospitals, implementing questionnaires and interviews.
The methods used for it include the study site. From September to December 2004 in Fort
Portal a municipality on Kabarole District, west of Uganda; three clinics were selected in the
process, the Joint Clinical Research Center, The prevention of mother to Child Transmission
program, and the AIDS clinic in Virika; this last one only offered support without antiretroviral
therapy.
In Sample selection a cross-sectional study was conducted and systematic sample was
used to choose HIV positive patients. The inclusion criteria included: 18to 55 years of age, and
being treated at the above mentioned facilities. The exclusion criteria was to have patients
between 18 to 55 years, being HIV seronegative and not being part of the three programs offered
by the clinics.
Data collected relied on set of questionnaires translated to the local language and verified
by second translator. The analysis of the data was done by descriptive analysis, frequency, mean
and median calculation. There were also study approval and ethical considerations were by two
different entities, the University of Alberta, Canada, and the Uganda National Council of
Science. Descriptive analysis with frequency, mean, and median calculations was completed.
The results have shown a relationship between patients that only receive supportive
treatment are strongly relates with lower levels of educational attainment, divorced, separated or
widowed, and had prior antiretroviral therapy. Other important conclusion has shown the use of
traditional herbal medicine by patients prior to the diagnosis and after it, and most of the patients
in the study experienced a need to use both as part of their treatment, taking herbal as food
supplements. 63.5% of the patients in the study affirm to use herbal treatment after being
diagnosed with HIV infection. This conclusion is very important for health care professionals. In
fact, the information provided for these patients at the time of the compilation of medical history
and physical assessment must detect on time any drug-interaction, if present.
Two powerful reasons for traditional herbal medicine use among patients in this region is
also the deficient and inaccessible health care system, the limited access to affordable means of
pharmaceutical remedies and a definitive cure for the disease. In other words, reduced cost and
improved access to pharmaceuticals would result in reduced dependency on traditional herbal
medicine; herbal medicine has shown a significant decrease in the effectiveness of ART.
References
Klassen, Deanne Langlois., Kripp, Walter., Jhangri, Gian S., Rubaale, Tom., Use of
Traditional Herbal Medicine by AIDS Patients in Kabarole District, Western Uganda. The
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2007 pp. 757-736. Web