Patterns and determinants of the use of complementary and alternative medicine: a cross-sectional study of hypertensive patients in Ghana

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) encompasses domains of healing resources related to health practices and beliefs different from conventional medicine [1]. Whereas complementary medicine is used in conjunction with standard conventional medical practice, alternative medicine is used as a substitute for conventional medicine [1].

The practice of CAM is gaining ground in both developed and developing countries with utilization pattern as high as 80% recorded in Africa [2]. In Ghana, the word ‘traditional medicine’ (TM) is a more common term for CAM though progressively, these two terminologies are used interchangeably in several other parts of the world [3]. In Ghana, like other developing countries TM is relevant in the health care system and reveals the values, behaviours, and the socio-religious structure of the indigenous Ghanaian society from which it was developed [4]. Although, CAM/TM has been an age long practice in the country, and about 70% of the Ghanaian population depend on it for their health care [5], there is inadequate information on comprehensive policy or guidelines for the preparation, distribution and utilization of this type of practice.

Evidence suggests that CAM use is common among hypertensive patients (8% - 40%) and they use it alongside conventional medical treatments [2, 6‐8]. Apart from providing cheaper alternatives to conventional medicine, the rise in CAM use has been attributed to its perceived ‘natural’ effect. As a result of this perception, people say it is less harmful and less toxic to the human body [9]. In his review of studies on herbal remedies, non-herbal remedies and other CAM approaches indicated for antihypertensive effect, Ernst (2005) observed generally modest effects of garlic and yoga on hypertension outcomes [10]. Similarly, the rich flavanol content in cocoa has been suggested to be beneficial in relaxing blood vessels and eventually leading to a reduction in blood pressure among people with hypertension. Yet, not all researchers have observed sufficient blood pressure lowering effect in people with essential hypertension [11]. In Ghana, anecdotal evidence from traditional medical practitioners shows the medicinal properties of garlic, natural cocoa powder, moringa and quite recently dandelion in lowering blood pressure. Despite encouraging assertion of CAM use for blood pressure reduction, empirical evidence to draw inferences regarding its effectiveness on blood pressure outcomes remains inadequate [12].

For chronic conditions such as hypertension, health expectations are closely linked with adherence to conventional treatment and the use of alternative medicines may negatively affect health outcomes of patients [13]. Although, there is paucity of information regarding CAM use and adherence to anti-hypertensive medications, poor levels of medication adherence among hypertensive patients has been reported [14]. To improve medication adherence as well as improve health outcomes, it is important to study the trends of CAM use among hypertensive patients in order to inform hypertension management in the country. The purpose of the study therefore was to evaluate the pattern, determinants and effect of CAM use on the adherence behaviour of hypertensive patients.

With documented evidence suggesting that CAM use is common among hypertensive patients [2, 6‐8], results from this study revealed that 78 (19.5%) out of the 400 hypertensive patients who participated in the study used CAM alongside conventional medical treatment. This study has shown a relatively lower rate of the use of CAM among study participant than what has been reported in Nigeria [2, 18] and UK [7] but higher than a rate of 7.8% in the USA [19].

The perception that biological based products are natural, less toxic, with relatively little or no side effects may have accounted for the significant use among the study participants. The commonly utilized biological based therapies were garlic, moringa, dandelion, ‘bitter leaves’, pear leaves, cotton plant, and herbal preparations obtained from herbalists. Generally, acquisition of such products was quite easy because whereas a majority of participants easily obtained them from farms and backyard gardens, a considerable proportion of patients reported purchasing these readily available products from places such as the market, herbal centres, pharmacies, gym, and the church. For the reason that people get the products easily, it will be difficult for these products to be effectively monitored and controlled by the appropriate regulatory bodies. Moreover, there is the lack of a comprehensive guideline for the preparation, distribution and utilization of CAM practice in Ghana. There is no single, adequately functional body responsible for the control, information, catalogue, and in-depth research of all CAM/TM. Ghana has a Traditional Medicine Practice Act, Act 595 which established a council to regulate the practice of traditional medicine practitioners and license them to practice and to regulate the preparation and sale of herbal medicines [20].Yet, the role of this council is not considerably recognised. Additionally, one of the objectives of the Food and Drugs Authority in Ghana is to regulate all foods, drugs and cosmetics including those that fall under herbal preparations. However, the realization of this mandate is far from optimal and does not include all forms of CAM/TM. A common feature in Ghana is the ease with which people display and sell their CAM/TM products and practices within the community, such as moving from house to house, in public buses and coaches, on the streets, schools and even health centres. Regulating such practitioners and practices becomes quite difficult.

A substantial number of study participants had not disclosed their use of CAM to their healthcare providers, similar to findings from related studies [21, 22]. The main reasons for the non-disclosure included fear of health providers getting angry about CAM use and the lack of interest shown by the providers in knowing about the use of alternative remedies among the patients. While noting the relevance of CAM use to hypertensive patients, inadequate information flow between the patient and the healthcare provider concerning the inclusion or substitution of CAM remedies to conventional hypertensive therapies may be problematic in patient management. Such information on CAM use is important for health professionals because they need to assess patient needs in relation to treatment outcomes, medication adherence behaviours, and possible drug interactions. The lack of such monitoring may predispose patients to the risk of developing complications resulting from poor blood pressure control and its associated high incidence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

In this study, the use of CAM in males was significantly higher than in females and males were about three times more likely to use CAM than females. Our findings are consistent with previous studies reporting CAM use dominantly among males [23] and at the same time inconsistent with other studies [2, 7, 24]. This study also revealed a significant association between the experiences of anti-hypertensive medication side effects and CAM use. Hypertension may contribute to causing sexual dysfunction, and the side effects that characterize many anti-hypertensive medications may worsen erectile dysfunction and other sexual performance difficulties [25]. Sexual activity may differ across cultures and ethnic groups. Issues about sexuality, particularly in Ghana and Africa, constitute cultural constructs that predominantly express masculine worth, dominance and fertility [26, 27]. Therefore, it is plausible that the male study participants may have relied on CAM instead of their conventional medicines or used CAM to help alleviate the potential side effects associated with their anti-hypertensive medications. Although the number of people with hypertension is increasing in Ghana, research into sexual function of hypertensive patients is limited. There is therefore the need for further studies on sexual life in relation to anti-hypertensive medications and the subsequent quality of life implications for hypertensive patients.

A very high percentage (93.25%) of the study participants poorly adhered to their medications and this observation is in line with previously reported evidence that medication non-adherence among hypertensive patients in Ghana is 93% [14]. CAM use however did not have a significant relationship with medication non-adherence behaviour. More research is therefore needed in this area to examine possible causes of the extremely high non-adherence behaviour among hypertensive patients. This information would undoubtedly be valuable for intervention programmes to enhance patient medication adherence and health outcomes.

The inability to afford medications was found to be a significant determinant of CAM use. A previous study identified inability to afford anti-hypertensive medications as the main reason for the high medication non-adherence rates among hypertensive patients in Ghana [14]. While the current study does not directly address this trend, the focus was on identifying a potential association between affordability and CAM use which has been noted in past studies as providing cheaper alternatives to hypertension management. The findings from our study suggest that these patients sought less expensive options of hypertension management because they had difficulty acquiring conventional anti-hypertensive medications.

The study acknowledges some limitations. First, although the study participants were recruited from tertiary institutions which serve different health populations, hypertensive patients in Ghana are managed in other health settings. Hence the results may not be generalizable to all hypertensive patients. Second, medication intake information was obtained from the patients who could be prone to social desirability bias.

The present study has reported CAM use among hypertensive patients in Ghana. The majority of CAM users relied on biological based therapies such as garlic, moringa, dandelion, bitter leaves and herbal preparations. The study observed that males, inability to afford anti-hypertensive medications and side effects of conventional medicines were the main determinants of CAM use. The majority of CAM users had not disclosed their CAM utilization to their healthcare providers. Although no significant association between CAM use and medication adherence was observed, participants who used CAM had a greater likelihood of non-adherence than those who did not use CAM. It is therefore important that healthcare providers understand the patterns and determinants of CAM use among their patients in order to incorporate intervention programmes to enhance health outcomes.