Pregnancy and Herbal Medicine Treatment in Ghana

Herbal medicine used during pregnancy is very prevalent in the traditional settings of Ghana, despite the modern western antenatal care which has developed in most parts of the country. To our knowledge, previous studies investigating herbal medicine use have primarily reported general attitudes and perceptions of use, overlooking the standpoint of pregnant women and their attitudes, and utilisation of herbal medicine in Ghana. In developing countries, particularly sub-Saharan African countries, the prevalence of use of herbs among pregnant women is estimated to range from 30 to 70% indicating a higher prevalence of herbs used in Africa than the Western world. For instance, about 35% of pregnant women in Cote d’ Ivoire, 31% of pregnant women in Nigeria, 33% of pregnant women in South Africa and 42% of pregnant women in Tanzania use herbal medicine. In Ghana, there are scant data on the use of herbs among pregnant women, however, it is openly known that herbal medicine since the precolonial era has played a significant role during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care in many parts of the country. Especially in rural areas, the demand for herbal medicine by pregnant women has increased over the years. Herbal medicine has, therefore, become a panacea for many rural pregnant women in Ghana despite the modern western antenatal care which has developed in most parts of the country. Previous studies investigating herb use in Ghana have reported general attitudes, perceptions, and prevalence of use, omitting the standpoint of pregnant women in relation to their attitudes, perceptions and utilisation of herbal medicine. Pregnant women and native doctors know various kinds of medicinal herbs, particularly ginger (Zingiber officinale), peppermint (Mentha × piperita), tea leaf (Camellia sinensis), and raspberry (Rubus idaeus) which have been with them since time immemorial and as a result, knowledge is transmitted from generation to generation and does not require formal education or training for them to know more about them. In the African set up, bringing forth a child is one of the most glamorous events in the life of families especially for the women. It however becomes an anticlimax if the child is born with any form of physical or intellectual malformation. Such children may even be ostracized should they be allowed to live but in the extreme cases, such unfortunate children suffer various degrees of violence including being killed. Various factors are implicated in causing various forms of malformation but there is no doubt that drugs taken before and during pregnancy are culprits as about 10% of birth defects are attributable to various specific agents such as environmental agents, drugs, biologic or nutritional factors with 70% of the causes unknown Several drugs including non-steroidal anti-infammatory drugs such as Aspirin, anticancer agent such as cyclophosphamide, antibiotics such as tetracycline and quinolones, phenytoin, an anticonvulsant, among other drugs have been proven to cause structural and functional deformities in the foetuses of mothers who are exposed to them. During pregnancy, the hormonal changes cause various signs and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, lower abdominal cramps which make living uncomfortable for them. Normal pregnancy would not require drugs but some women have to use prescribed or over-the-counter medications to assist them to cope with these signs and symptoms. Other women who had preexisting conditions prior to the pregnancy would have to continue using them to safeguard their own lives. Some studies in developed countries of Sweden, North and South America, Europe, and Australia had shown up to 80% of pregnant women use at least one allopathic drug. Women in developing countries where up to 80% of their population depend on herbal preparation for their primary healthcare needs would invariably use herbal products for the management of the pregnancy associated signs and symptoms. There is this notion among some users across the world that since herbal medicines are from natural sources, they are harmless or carry minimal risk so pregnant women also and them to be safer than orthodox medicines. For even the very well researched orthodox medicines, there is always the fear that these drugs can cause various malformation in the unborn child hence some drugs are contraindicated in pregnancy. This belief in herbal medicines being safe may not be accurate since studies have found some plants be harmful. A typical example is a Chinese slimming tea. To be Continued.. Sources : https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com and https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327515815_Herbal_medicine_usage_before_and_during_pregnancy_-_a_study_in_Northern_Ghana