Background
Methods
Search strategy
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Study selection and data extraction
Quality assessment
Reporting and data analysis
Results
Study selection and characteristics
Sample and study setting
Study quality
Quality assessment items | Brief description | Points awarded | Percentage/frequency of studies % (n) | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Study methods | |||||
Recall bias | Low risk | Prospective data collection | 2 | - | - |
Some risk | Retrospective data collection within previous 12 months | 1 | 33.3 (6) | ||
High risk | Retrospective data collection not within previous 12 months | 0 | 66.7 (12) | ||
Piloted questionnaire (or interview schedule) | Any pilot, feasibility, pretest, or previous use of study materials | 1 | 61.1 (11) | ||
Address potential sources of bias | Report efforts to address nonresponsive bias or information bias | 1 | 16.7 (3) | ||
Adjust for potential confounders | Any adjustment of confounders in analyses of variables associated with TM use | 1 | 27.8 (5) | ||
Sampling | |||||
Response rate | Where response rate = (number of participants in the study/number of people invited to take part) × 100 | 1 | 44.4 (8) | ||
Representative sampling strategy | Any attempt to achieve a sample of participants that represents the larger population from which they were drawn (but cannot be a single center sample) | 1 | 16.7 (3) | ||
Participant characteristics | |||||
Specific diagnosis | Report participants’ diagnoses | 1 | 22.2 (4) | ||
Indicator of socioeconomic status | Report participants’ socioeconomic status | 0.5 | 83.3 (15) | ||
Age | Report participants’ ages | 0.5 | 88.9 (16) | ||
Ethnicity | Report participants’ ethnicity | 0.5 | 27.8 (5) | ||
Gender | Report participants’ gender | 0.5 | 100 (18) | ||
TM use | |||||
TM definition | Information about the definition of TM/a list of TM modalities provided to participants | 2 | 27.8 (5) | ||
Use of TM modalities assessed | Report the prevalence of use of specific TM modalities | 1 | 88.9 (16) | ||
Frequency/duration of TM uses | Report how often or for what duration the TM were/are used by study participants | 1 | 11.1 (3) | ||
Reasons for TM use | Report the reasons for the use of TM by study participants | 2 | 61.1 (11) |
Author/ year of publication | Study methods (5 points) | Sampling (2 points) | Participant characteristics (3 points) | TM use (6 points) | Total points awarded (Max = 16) | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recall bias (2 pts) (2 = low risk if data collection was prospective; 1 = some risk if data collection is retrospective within previous 12 months; 0 = high risk) | Piloted questionnaire or interview schedule (1 pt) | Address potential source of bias (1 pt) | Adjust for potential confounders (1 pt) | Response rate (1 pt) | Representative sampling (1 pt) | Specific diagnosis (1 pt) | Indicator of socioeconomic status (0.5 pt) | Age (0.5 pt) | Ethnicity (0.5 pt) | Gender (0.5 pt) | TM definition (2 pts) | Use of TM modalities assessed (1 pt) | Frequency/duration of TM use (1 pt) | Reasons for TM use (2 pts) | ||
Banda et al., 2007 [26] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 (31.3%) |
Bayisa et al., 2014 [27] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 (37.5%) |
Duru et al., 2016 [28] | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 (43.8%) |
Elkhoudri et al., 2016 [29] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6.5 (40.6%) |
Fakeye et al.,2009 [30] | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 1a
| 1 | 0 | 2 | 9.5 (59.4.6%) |
Kaadaaga et al., 2014 [31] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 (56.3%) |
Lalego et al., 2016 [32] | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.5 (34.4%) |
Mabina et al., 1997 [33] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4.5 (28.1%) |
Mbura et al., 1985 [42] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7.5 (46.9%) |
Mothupi and Carol 2014 [7] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 1a
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.5 (34.4%) |
Mugomeri et al., 2015 [34] | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7.5 (46.9%) |
Mureye et al., 2012 [35] | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1a
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 (50%) |
Nergard et al., 2015 [36] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6.5 (40.6%) |
Nyeko et al., 2016 [37] | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6.5 (40.6%) |
Orief et al., 2014 [38] | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5.5 (34.4%) |
Rasch et al., 2014 [39] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4.5 (28.1%) |
Sarmiento et al., 2016 [40] | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 (25%) |
Tamuno et al., 2011 [41] | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.5 (34.4%) |
Prevalence of TM use in maternity care
Types of TM used
Author | Participants’ country of origin | Sample size | Target groups | Prevalence of TM use | Specific types of TMs used | Characteristics of users | Maternal conditions treated by TM/ reasons of use | Source of information or providers | Disclosure of TM use to health care providers | Study design/data collection method |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Banda et al., 2007 [26] | Zambia | 1128 | Pregnant women | 21% | NR | - Users are not different from non- users in terms of age, education, ethnicity or income - women who knew anyone who had used TM during pregnancy were more likely to use TM - Women who thought that the use of TM may hurt their baby were less likely to use TM - Women who reported accessing traditional medical care were only half as likely to adhere to HIV drugs | NR | NR | 64% of users did not want to share their use of TM to health care providers | Quantitative/Interviewer administered questionnaire |
Bayisa et al., 2014 [27] | Ethiopia | 250 | Pregnant women | 50.4% | Herbal medicine (garlic, ginger, eucalypt, ruta rue) | - Age, educational status, marriage, ethnicity and source of information were not associated with TM use - About 70% of users were pregnant women on their first trimester | For treatment of nausea, morning sickness, vomiting, cough, nutritional deficiency | Neighbors, family, health professionals, traditional healers | NR | Quantitative/ semi-structured questionnaire |
Duru et al., 2016 [28] | Nigeria | 500 | Pregnant women and nursing mothers | 36.8% | Herbal medicine (bitter leaf, palm kernel, bitter kola, neem leaves, garlic, jute leaves, ginger | - Pregnant women aged 20–30 years were frequent users (41%) - Married women were eight times more likely to use TM than unmarried women - Women with no formal education reported the highest use (85.7%) compared to tertiary education achievers (18.8%) - Better income favored use of TM - Gestational period, parity, ethnicity and occupation did not impacted on the use of TM | NR | NR | NR | Quantitative/ semi-structured interview administered questionnaire |
Elkhoudri et al., 2016 [29] | Morocco | 181 | Mothers who gave birth in the last 5 years preceding the study | 42% | Herbal medicine (vervain, cresson, madder, fenugreek, cinnamon, ginger) | - Illiterate women have used TM more frequently - Multiparous women were more likely to use TM than first time mothers | To get back in shape after delivery, facilitate child birth, vomiting, increase breast milk secretion | NR | NR | Quantitative/ interviewer administered questionnaire |
Fakeye et al.,2009 [30] | Nigeria | 595 | Pregnant women | 67.5 | Herbal medicine (detail is not reported) | - Age, geographical zones and educational status were strongly associated with TM use (detail description of age category and education level were not reported) | Users perceived better effectiveness to TM than conventional medicine, cultural beliefs to TM, better accessibility, lower cost and other reasons were reported | Local herb sellers, herbalists | 56.6% of participants did not support combining with herbs with medications | Quantitative/ structured questionnaire |
Kaadaaga et al., 2014 [31] | Uganda | 260 | Women with fertilization problem | 76.2 | Herbal medicine (detail is not reported) | - Married women with infertility problem were more likely to use TM - women who did not conceived before were more likely to use TM Women with infertility for less than 3 years were more likely to use TM | Treatment of infertility | NR | 63.8% of users did not disclose TM use to their physicians | Quantitative/interviewer administered structured questionnaire |
Lalego et al., 2016 [32] | Ethipiopia | 363 | Pregnant women | 73.1 | Herbal medicine (ginger, garlic, eucalyptus, ruta rue, ocimumlamifolium, garden cress | - being on first trimester, less education and having less knowledge about TM favored use of TM | Management of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cold, fever | Parents/relatives, neighbor, herbalists | NR | Quantitative/ interviewer administered structured questionnaire |
Mabina et al., 1997 [33] | South Africa | 577 | Pregnant women | 43.7 | Herbal medicine | - Those having knowledge about herbal medicine and on second trimester were frequent users of TM | NR | Parents, relatives, TBA, herbalist, friends | NR | Quantitative/ questionnaire |
Mbura et al., 1985 [42] | Tanzania | Pregnant women | 42% | Herbal medicine | - Prevalence of TM use among pregnant women from the rural and urban areas has no difference Pregnant women on their first trimester were frequent users - Muslims were frequent users of TM compared to Christians | To treat pregnancy related symptoms, to assist labor | NR | NR | Quantitative/ interview administered questionnaire | |
Mothupi and Carol 2014 [7] | Kenya | 333 | Mothers who gave birth in the past 9 months before the study | 12% | Herbal medicine (detail was not provided) | - Women with no formal education were more likely to use TM - Women who live far from health facilities (>10 km) were frequent users | To treat swollen feet, back pain, digestive problems. High cost, inaccessibility and distance of health facilities resort respondents to TM use | Family, friends, open markets, herbal clinics | Only 12.5% of user disclosed use of TM to their doctors. About 51% of users reported use of combined herbs with pharmaceutical drugs | Quantitative/ interviewer administered questionnaire |
Mugomeri et al., 2015 [34] | Lesotho | 72 | Pregnant women | 47.2 | Herbal medicine (detail was not reported) | - 50% of users were on the second trimester - Women’s age, marital status, literacy and parity were not associated with use of TM | Prevention of abortion, prevention of placenta praevia, promotion of fetal growth, edema, spiritual cleansing and relief of pain | Grandmothers, mothers-in-law, TH, TBA | NR | Quantitative/ semi-structured questionnaire |
Mureye et al., 2012 [35] | Zimbabwe | 248 | Pregnant women | 52% | TM (holy water, soil burrowed by moles, elephant dung, cocktails of unknown herbs, lubricants and others | - Being in the age range of 20–25, nulliparity and nulligravidity predicted frequent use of TM - Most users were on their third trimester | To prevent perineal tearing, placenta retention, breech presentation, postpartum hemorrhage, prolonged labor and preeclampsia | NR | NR | Quantitative/ interviewer administered questionnaire |
Nergard et al., 2015 [36] | Mali | 209 | Pregnant women and mothers | 79.9% | Herbal medicine (Lippia chevalieri, combretum micranthum and others) | - Socio-demographic characteristics were not associated with use of herbal medicines - Frequent use of herbal medicines was reported during the first trimester | For general wellbeing, as dietary supplements, to treat edema, urinary tract infection, and tiredness | NR | Pregnant women used herbal preparation without any supervision from care providers | Quantitative/ interviewer administered questionnaire |
Nyeko et al., 2016 [37] | Uganda | 383 | Pregnant women | 20% | Herbal medicine (detail wan not reported) | - Women who used herbal medicine in the past were eight times more likely to use during the current pregnancy - Distance more than 5 km to health facilities was associated with increased herbal medicine use | To treat waist pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. For induction of labor and difficulty in accessing health facilities. | NR | 90% of users did not disclose to their health care providers | Mixed method / questionnaire survey and FGDs |
Orief et al., 2014 [38] | Egypt | 300 | Pregnant women | 27.3 | Herbal medicine (Aniseed, fenugreek, ginger, garlic, green tea and peppermint) | - Statistically significant difference was found regarding the age, gravidity, parity and BMI among the pregnant women who used herbal medicines (details were not reported) | To treat abdominal colic during pregnancy, nausea and vomiting and headache | Friends, family, physician | NR | Quantitative/ questionnaire survey |
Rasch et al., 2014 [39] | Tanzania | 125 | Women who had unsafe abortion | 43% | Herbal medicine (Bidens pilosa, rubia cordifolia, ocimum suave and others) | - 22% of users ingested medicinal plants orally to induce abortion - 13% of users inserted plant specimens virginally to induce abortion - socio-demographic characteristics of users were not reported | To induce abortion | NR | NR | Quantitative/ interviewer administered questionnaire |
Sarmiento et al., 2016 [40] | Nigeria | 5686 | Pregnant women in the past 2 years | 24.1% | NR | - Socioeconomic factors were not associated with use of TM | To assist childbirth | NR | NR | Quantitative/ interviewer administered questionnaire |
Tamuno et al., 2011 [41] | Nigeria | 500 | Pregnant women | 31.4% | Herbal medicine (ginger, garlic | - Women with no formal education were more likely to use TM - Low socio-economic status was significantly associated with TM use | NR | NR | Over 40% of women reported combined use of herbs and drugs | Quantitative/ self-administered questionnaire |
Naidu 2014 [43] | South Africa | 21 | women who were either pregnant or women who had had children | NA |
Isihlambezo (Herbal decoction used by many Zulu women in South Africa as a preventative health tonic during pregnancy) | Women’s have a strong cultural belief to Isihlambezo to prevent health problems during pregnancy | NA | NA | NR | Qualitative/ interview |
Kooi and Theobald 2006 [8] | South Africa | 27 |
kgaba (contains different herbal medicines to prevent physical problems and the perceived harm that evil spirits can cause during pregnancy) | The use of kgaba as perceived by the women is an important component in the experience of pregnancy and labour | NA | NA | communication about the use of kgaba between pregnant women and health staff was poor | Qualitative/interview |