Document Detail


The prevalence of herbal medicine home use and concomitant use with pharmaceutical medicines in Jamaica.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21645607     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
AIM OF THE STUDY: To study the prevalence of herbal medicine use in treating illness and concomitant use with pharmaceutical medicines in Jamaica. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A survey using a structured questionnaire was administered by a trained interviewer to randomly selected adults in systematically selected households within randomly selected urban and rural clusters. Categorical data analysis was performed using Stata version 10 software. RESULTS: 91.4% (372/407) of selected people agreed to participate. 72.6% (270/372) self-medicated with herbs within the previous year. Commonly treated were illnesses of the respiratory system (RS, 77.8% (210/270)), gastro-intestinal tract (GIT, 53.3% (144/270)) and health maintenance using tonics (29.6% (80/270)). 26.7% (72/270) of respondents used pharmaceuticals concomitantly with medicinal plants. Commonly treated were illnesses of the RS (20.4% (55/270)), GIT (13.7% (37/270)) and hypertension (10.0% (27/270)). 19.4% (14/72) of physicians knew of such practices. There was significant association of herb use with/without drugs with age (p<0.001), employment status (p<0.001), religion (p=0.004), gender (p=0.02) and educational level (p=0.031). Thus prevalence of herb use alone was greatest amongst people aged 35-44 and 45-54 years; those employed; Rastafarians; those without health insurance; males and people who had completed secondary education. Whilst prevalence of concomitant herb-drug use was greater amongst people aged 65 years and older; those retired; those of religions other than Rastafarians and Christians, females and people who had attained primary education and below. CONCLUSIONS: Self-medication with herbs in Jamaica is highly prevalent and highest for self-limiting conditions of the RS, GIT and health maintenance with tonics. Concomitant herb and drug use is highest for self-limiting conditions of the RS, GIT and hypertension, and the use of combined therapy highlights the need for investigations on potential drug-herb interactions. Physicians have limited awareness and knowledge of such concomitant usage, further highlighting the need for increased dialogue with patients, knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses and a heightened pharmacovigilance to avoid adversities that may arise from potential drug-herb interactions.
Authors:
David Picking; Novie Younger; Sylvia Mitchell; Rupika Delgoda
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Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-5-27
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of ethnopharmacology     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1872-7573     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-6-7     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7903310     Medline TA:  J Ethnopharmacol     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
Affiliation:
Natural Products Institute, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
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