Motivations for Herbal Medicine use During Pregnancy and Childbirth in Butiama District, Tanzania: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study
ABSTRACT Background and Aims Herbal medicine remains a popular choice among rural pregnant women in Tanzania, despite the availability of modern antenatal care. While about 80% of Africans use plant‐based remedies for issues like infections, nausea, and labour induction, most studies in Tanzania hav...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Health Science Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70895 |
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| Summary: | ABSTRACT Background and Aims Herbal medicine remains a popular choice among rural pregnant women in Tanzania, despite the availability of modern antenatal care. While about 80% of Africans use plant‐based remedies for issues like infections, nausea, and labour induction, most studies in Tanzania have been quantitative, failing to explore the deeper motivations behind this practice. This study explored the motivations for using herbal medicine during pregnancy in Butiama District, Tanzania. Methods This phenomenological qualitative study explored motivations for herbal medicine use during pregnancy among 16 women at Butiama District Hospital through purposive sampling. In‐depth, semi‐structured interviews were conducted, transcribed from Swahili, and analyzed thematically. Ethical considerations included informed consent, confidentiality, and securing ethical approval from the relevant institutional review board. Results The study identified four main themes and fourteen subthemes influencing herbal medicine use during pregnancy in Butiama District: individual reasons (availability, safety, complementing conventional medicine, hastening labor, and spiritual protection), interpersonal influences (advice from friends, family, and fellow patients), community and cultural factors (beliefs in therapeutic effects and witchcraft protection), and perceived dissatisfaction with conventional healthcare (treatment outcomes and cost concerns). Conclusion Herbal medicine use during pregnancy in Butiama District is influenced by individual, interpersonal, cultural, and healthcare factors. Despite access to conventional care, dissatisfaction with outcomes and costs drives many women to herbal alternatives. Integrating discussions on traditional and modern healthcare could improve maternal health in rural areas. |
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| ISSN: | 2398-8835 |