ArticleBMC complementary and alternative medicine2014
Prevalence and factors associated with use of herbal medicine among women attending an infertility clinic in Uganda.
Article in BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
36 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 65 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Prevalence of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use among Infertile Patients: A Global Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of fertility & sterility · 2024Pooled it
- Prevalence, motivation, and associated factors of medicinal herbs consumption in pregnant women from Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office: a systematic review.Pharmaceutical biology · 2023Pooled it
- Antibiotic-resistance in medically important bacteria isolated from commercial herbal medicines in Africa from 2000 to 2021: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Antimicrobial resistance and infection control · 2022Pooled it
- The use of traditional medicine in maternity care among African women in Africa and the diaspora: a systematic review.BMC complementary and alternative medicine · 2017Pooled it
- Infertility service availability, geographic accessibility, and use: results from linked facility-female cross-sectional data in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Niger, and Uganda.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- A cross-sectional survey of service delivery for infertility in Uganda: gaps, opportunities and a way forward.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- What to expect when you want to be expecting: time-to-pregnancy expectations and anticipated worry and help-seeking among a nationally representative survey of women in Uganda.Reproductive health · 2025Article
- The impact of socioeconomic characteristics on Sudanese women's use of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine for self-management of infertility.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2025Article
- Article
- Prevalence, Forms, and Factors Associated With the Use of Herbal Medicine Among Adults Diagnosed With Hypertension at Naguru Regional Referral Hospital: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of tropical medicine · 2025Article
- Care-seeking for difficulties conceiving in sub-Saharan Africa: findings from population-based surveys in eight geographies.Human reproduction (Oxford, England) · 2024Article
- Effect of alternative and complementary medicine on male infertility: An umbrella review.Health science reports · 2024Article
- Fertility education on Instagram: advertisements vs. educational content analysis for posts in Bahasa (Indonesian language).Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) · 2024Article
- A cross-sectional survey on the use of herbal tea among Cameroonian adults (18-65 years).BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2023Article
- Apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in infertility: A mini review.Toxicology reports · 2023Review
- Hysterosalpingographic, ultrasonographic and clinical profile of infertile women in Butembo, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.The Pan African medical journal · 2023Article
- Article
- Factors influencing the use of herbal medications during pregnancy at Public Health Center, Indonesia.Journal of public health research · 2022Article
- Attitude of literate married men towards the use of aphrodisiac herbs in Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria.African health sciences · 2022Article
- Pharmacotherapy of infertility in Ghana: Why do infertile patients discontinue their fertility treatment?PloS one · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundInfertility is a public health problem associated with devastating psychosocial consequences. In countries where infertility care is difficult to access, women turn to herbal medicines to achieve parenthood. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with herbal medicine use by women attending the infertility clinic.
methodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 260 women attending the infertility clinic at Mulago hospital. The interviewer administered questionnaire comprised socio-demographic characteristics, infertility-related aspects and information on herbal medicine use. The main outcome measure was herbal medicines use for infertility treatment. Determinants of herbal medicine use were assessed using multivariable logistic regression.
resultsThe majority (76.2%) of respondents had used herbal medicines for infertility treatment. The mean age of the participants was 28.3 years ± 5.5. Over 80% were married, 59.6% had secondary infertility and 2/3 of the married participants were in monogamous unions. In a multivariable model, the variables that were independently associated with increased use of herbal medicine among infertile patients were being married (OR 2.55, CI 1.24-5.24), never conceived (OR 4.08 CI 1.86-8.96) and infertility for less than 3 years (OR 3.52 CI 1.51-8.821). Factors that were associated with less use of herbal medicine among infertile women were being aged 30 years or less (OR 0.18 CI 0.07-0.46), primary and no education (OR 0.12 CI 0.05-0.46) and living with partner for less than three years (OR 0.39 CI 0.16-0.93).
conclusionsThe prevalence of herbal medicine use among women attending the infertility clinic was 76.2%. Herbal medicine use was associated with the participants' age, level of education, marital status, infertility duration, nulliparity, and duration of marriage. Medical care was often delayed and the majority of the participants did not disclose use of herbal medicines to the attending physician. Health professionals should enquire about use of herbal medicines. This may help in educating the patients about the health risks of using herbal medicine and may reduce delays in seeking appropriate care. Collaboration of health professionals with herbal medicine practitioners would help identify the common herbal medicines used for infertility treatment, their potential benefits and harm.
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