Abstract
Background: Hypertensive patients have been using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to meet
their primary healthcare needs within Ethiopia. The use of plant-based medicine is not only common rather it is
also a culturally accredited practice, among the people of Ethiopia. However, studies conducted on the prevalence and correlates of herbal medicine (HM) use among hypertensive patients are lacking. Thus, this study
aimed to assess CAM use and its associated factors among hypertensive patients.
Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 450 hypertensive patients, visiting the
hypertensive care service of Debre Tabor General Hospital from November 1 to December 28, 2020. Interview guided self-administered questionnaires were used for data collection. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
(SPSS) software version 24.0 was used for data analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was
computed to identify associated factors of CAM use (age, sex, religion, residence, marital status, educational
level, monthly income, presence of HTN complication, duration of HTN, and family history of HTN).
Results: Out of the 450 hypertensive patients, 275 (67.8%) participants used complementary and alternative
medicine. Herbal medicines used among hypertensive patients were M. stenoptela 105 (62.9%), O. lamiifolium 81
(48.5%), C. aurea 62 (37.1%), R. nepalensis 44 (26.3%), M. piperata 36 (21.6%), H. abyssinica 24 (14.4%),
T. schimperi 19 (11.4%), R. abyssinicus 15 (9.0%), and T. foenumgraecum 9 (5.4%). Majority of CAM users 202
(73.5) did not discuss with health professionals about their CAM use. Families and friends 91 (33.1%) were the
frontline source of information about CAM use. In a multivariate analysis, female gender patients over 45 years
old, rural residence, higher educational level, high average monthly income, presence of complications, greater
than 5 years duration of hypertension (HTN), and having a family history of HTN were the independent predictors of CAM use.
Conclusion: The prevalence of CAM use among hypertensive patients was high 275 (67.8%). Factors associated
with CAM use are similar to those observed in previous studies, but further research is required to further clarify
the opportunities and challenges correlated to CAM use in Ethiopia.
their primary healthcare needs within Ethiopia. The use of plant-based medicine is not only common rather it is
also a culturally accredited practice, among the people of Ethiopia. However, studies conducted on the prevalence and correlates of herbal medicine (HM) use among hypertensive patients are lacking. Thus, this study
aimed to assess CAM use and its associated factors among hypertensive patients.
Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 450 hypertensive patients, visiting the
hypertensive care service of Debre Tabor General Hospital from November 1 to December 28, 2020. Interview guided self-administered questionnaires were used for data collection. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
(SPSS) software version 24.0 was used for data analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was
computed to identify associated factors of CAM use (age, sex, religion, residence, marital status, educational
level, monthly income, presence of HTN complication, duration of HTN, and family history of HTN).
Results: Out of the 450 hypertensive patients, 275 (67.8%) participants used complementary and alternative
medicine. Herbal medicines used among hypertensive patients were M. stenoptela 105 (62.9%), O. lamiifolium 81
(48.5%), C. aurea 62 (37.1%), R. nepalensis 44 (26.3%), M. piperata 36 (21.6%), H. abyssinica 24 (14.4%),
T. schimperi 19 (11.4%), R. abyssinicus 15 (9.0%), and T. foenumgraecum 9 (5.4%). Majority of CAM users 202
(73.5) did not discuss with health professionals about their CAM use. Families and friends 91 (33.1%) were the
frontline source of information about CAM use. In a multivariate analysis, female gender patients over 45 years
old, rural residence, higher educational level, high average monthly income, presence of complications, greater
than 5 years duration of hypertension (HTN), and having a family history of HTN were the independent predictors of CAM use.
Conclusion: The prevalence of CAM use among hypertensive patients was high 275 (67.8%). Factors associated
with CAM use are similar to those observed in previous studies, but further research is required to further clarify
the opportunities and challenges correlated to CAM use in Ethiopia.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 100132 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Metabolism Open |
| Volume | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2021 |
| Externally published | Yes |