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Table 4 Reasons for using herbal medicine during pregnancy

From: Prevalence and factors associated with use of herbal medicines during pregnancy among women attending postnatal clinics in Gulu district, Northern Uganda

Characteristics

Numbera

Percentb

Obstetrics reasons (n = 106):

 Nausea and vomiting

23

21.7

 Abdominal/waist pain

45

42.5

 Keep the baby healthy

8

7.5

 Induce/enhance labour

30

28.3

Socio-cultural beliefs (n = 120):

 Tradition of use

43

35.8

 HM cures many illnesses

47

39.2

 Herbs are more efficacious

15

12.5

 Herbs are safe in pregnancy

15

12.5

Health systems (n = 109):

 Low cost of herbal medicine

34

31.2

 Difficulty accessing health facility

45

41.3

 Lack of drugs in health facility

30

27.5

Concurrent illness (n = 105):

 Respiratory infections

29

27.6

 Febrile illness

47

44.8

 Skin problems

25

23.8

 Other reasons

4

3.8

  1. aParticipants had multiple reasons for using herbal medicine
  2. bpercentage calculated using the denominator for each category