Sekagya Yahaya H
Dr. Sekagya Institute of Traditional Medicine and Indigenous Knowledge, Uganda
Title: Factors influencing use of traditional medicine by patients under palliative care at hospice Africa, Uganda.
Biography
Biography: Sekagya Yahaya H
Abstract
The study was to establish the factors influencing use of traditional medicine by patients under palliative care at Hospice Africa Uganda. It was carried out between January and June 2015 using a cross-sectional survey targeting 207 adult respondents who were consecutively sampled. Key informants were also purposively selected. The data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-square and logistic regression) to generate odds ratios. Results showed that advice from family, friends and other patients, (AOR=46, p=0.000) and religion (AOR=25, p=0.000) were positive factors influencing use of traditional medicine. However, the influence of doctor being aware that the patients was using or not using traditional medicine (AOR=0.184, p=0.000) was of negative influence. The rest of the factors; sex, age, marital status, education level, cultural beliefs, type of illness, past medical experience, availability and affordability of medicine were not significant factors influencing use of traditional medicine (p>0.05). Study recommends government to make policy on traditional medicine, Hospice Africa Uganda to scale up significance of social support for palliative care, palliative care organizations to sensitize religious leaders on palliative care and role of traditional medicine and The National Council of Education to include in the curriculum for medical students, doctors and nurses course units on traditional medicine.