Herbal medicine use among patients in a family medicine clinic in Northern Nigeria: prevalence, patterns, disclosure, patient perceptions, and predictors of use – a cross-sectional study
Afisulahi Abiodun Maiyegun, Bukar Grema Alhaji, Mark Divine Akangoziri, Yahkub Babatunde Mutalub, AbdulRauf Segun Ibraheem, Hassana Dauda Gololo, AbdulGafar Lekan Olawumi, Farida Buhari Ibrahim
Abstract
Background: Traditional herbal medicine (HM) use is widespread across Africa, yet data regarding its prevalence and patterns within clinical family medicine settings in Northern Nigeria remain scarce. This study evaluated the prevalence, structural patterns, and socio-demographic predictors of HM use among outpatients in a tertiary hospital in Bauchi, Northern Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 341 adult patients at the General Outpatient Department of Family Medicine, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), from September to December 2018. Systematic random sampling was used to select participants. Data were gathered via pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaires and analyzed using Epi Info 7.2.5.0.
Results: The lifetime prevalence of HM use was 85.34% (95% CI: 81.19%–88.70%), with 27.59% being current users. Of the current users, 61.54% were concurrently taking conventional medications. Logistic regression analysis revealed that religion was significantly associated with herbal medicine use, with Christians having a 92.1% lower odd of using herbal medicine compared to Muslims (adjusted odds ratio=0.08;95% CI 0.01-0.51;P=<0.01). The most reported herbs were Moringa oleifera (59.8%), Nigella sativa (36.8%), and olive oil (34.4%). Strikingly, only 18.12% of HM users disclosed their usage to their physicians; the primary barrier was that doctors never inquired (81.59%). Furthermore, 80.07% of patients perceived their doctor’s attitude toward HM as negative.
Conclusion: HM usage is exceptionally high among family medicine outpatients in Northern Nigeria, frequently occurring alongside conventional therapies. Religion is a major determinant of HM use in the practice. Dismally low disclosure rates are driven by communication gaps rather than patient reluctance. Family physicians must proactively screen for herbal medicine use to prevent adverse herb-drug interactions.