Factors Associated With The Use Of Herbal Medicine Among Pregnant Women In The Nkwanta North And South Districts Of Oti Region, Ghana

ABSTRACT Introduction: Herbs have been used as an alternate form of treatment amidst the advent of orthodox therapies for health care. Herbs have been used as wellspring of potent remedies and have become an intrinsic part of various autochthonous cultures around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about eighty percent (80%) of rural populations residing in developing countries rely on herbal medicines for their health needs including its use during pregnancy. Studies carried out on herbal medicine utilization in pregnancy across different parts of the world show varying prevalence of herbal medicine consumption during pregnancy. Objectives: The main objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of herbal medicine use and the factors associated with usage among pregnant women in the Nkwanta North and South Districts of Oti Region, Ghana. Methods: This current study was conducted in two districts; Nkwanta North and Nkwanta South in the Oti Region. This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data collection was done through one and one interview using a semi-structured questionnaire on 433 pregnant women. It was done simultaneously in selected districts during ANC visit to Child Welfare Clinic (CWCs) days. In determining the association between pregnant women’s herbal medicine consumption and other independent variables a chi-square test was used. Logistic regressions, thus adjusted and unadjusted logistics which establishes the strength of associations were used to determine factors associated with the use of herbal medicine among pregnant women. STATA 15 was used for analysis. A p-value