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Prevalence and Predictors of Traditional Medicine Utilization among Persons Living With AIDS (PLWA) on Antiretroviral (ARV) and Prophylaxis Treatment in both Rural and Urban Areas in South Africa
- Source :
- African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines; Vol 9, No 4 (2012); 470-484
- Publication Year :
- 2012
- Publisher :
- African Ethnomedicines Network (Nigeria), 2012.
-
Abstract
- Previous studies have reported that majority of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment-naïve patients use traditional medicine(TM). Given that TM use is ubiquitous in South Africa especially for chronic conditions, there is a potential for ARV non-adherence and serious drug interactions among patients with HIV/AIDs who use TM. The motivating factors for TM use in HIV/AIDS patients on ARV and prophylaxis treatment have not been well defined in South Africa. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, facilitators, predictors, and types of TM used among persons living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral treatment. The study was a cross-sectional survey which involved 100 participants enrolled at ARV clinics in two South African provinces. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed to assess the relationships between variables and potential predictors of TM. Sixteen percent of participants on ARV reported TM use. Seventy-nine percent used TM prior to a diagnosis of HIV. Participants were more likely to use TM if they were from a rural province, female, older, unmarried, employed, had limited education, or were HIV-positive for less than five years. TM users reported utilizing herbal or medicinal mixtures that were claimed to heal all conditions. This study provides insights into the treatment modalities selected by patients with HIV/AIDS in South Africa who are receiving ARV. This study revealed that less than 20% of participants co-used TM and ARV. However, close to 80% of participants utilize TM before contracting HIV, which is in keeping with approximate estimates by the WHO.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
Rural Population
medicine.medical_specialty
Multivariate analysis
Urban Population
Cross-sectional study
Anti-HIV Agents
Population
Alternative medicine
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Herb-Drug Interactions
Developing country
medicine.disease_cause
South Africa
Sex Factors
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
Surveys and Questionnaires
Drug Discovery
AIDS, HIV infection, traditional medicine, alternative medicine, ARV
Medicine
Humans
education
Medicine, African Traditional
education.field_of_study
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Traditional medicine
business.industry
Age Factors
virus diseases
HIV
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
medicine.disease
Research Papers
Cross-Sectional Studies
Complementary and alternative medicine
Socioeconomic Factors
Multivariate Analysis
Female
Rural area
business
Phytotherapy
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01896016
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....08109db9c46d307d3042c0488087539c