Prevalence, Patterns, and Factors associated with Herbal Medicine Use During Pregnancy and Lactation in the Teso Region, Eastern Uganda
This facility-based cross-sectional study in Eastern Uganda reveals that 27% of pregnant and lactating women use herbal medicines, a practice significantly associated with alcohol use, prior pregnancy complications, healthcare access barriers, and perceived effectiveness, yet characterized by low disclosure to health workers and frequent concurrent use with conventional treatments, highlighting urgent safety concerns.
Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This is an AI-generated explanation of the paper below. It is not written or endorsed by the authors. For technical accuracy, refer to the original paper. Read full disclaimer
In many parts of the world, particularly across sub-Saharan Africa, the line between modern medicine and traditional healing is often blurred. For generations, communities have relied on plants—roots, leaves, and bark prepared as teas, powders, or pastes—to treat illnesses and maintain health. This practice is deeply woven into daily life, offering a familiar and accessible way to care for oneself when other options are scarce or when cultural beliefs favor traditional remedies. However, when it comes to pregnancy and breastfeeding, the use of these herbal preparations enters a complex and delicate territory. While many plants have been used for centuries, their specific effects on a developing fetus or a nursing infant are often not fully understood by science. There is a genuine concern that substances safe for an adult might cause harm during these critical periods of growth, or that mixing herbal remedies with standard medical treatments could create dangerous interactions. Understanding how, why, and how often expectant and new mothers turn to these traditional remedies is essential for doctors and policymakers who want to ensure the safety of both mother and child.
A recent study conducted in the Teso sub-region of Eastern Uganda sought to map out this landscape with precision. Researchers from Soroti University visited five health facilities between February 1 and February 28, 2026, to speak directly with women who were either pregnant or had given birth within the last six months. They did not just ask if these women used herbal medicine; they asked what they used, where they got it, why they chose it, and whether they told their doctors about it. The team interviewed 671 women, carefully selecting them to represent the local population, which is predominantly rural and relies heavily on subsistence farming. The goal was to move beyond guesswork and gather concrete data on the prevalence and patterns of herbal use in this specific community.
The findings reveal that the practice is widespread. About one in four women in the study reported using some form of herbal medicine during their pregnancy or within six months after giving birth. This translates to a prevalence of 27 percent among the participants. Among those who used these remedies, the most commonly identified plant was Zanthoxylum chalybeum, a tree known locally for its medicinal properties. However, a significant portion of the users, nearly 43 percent, could not name the specific plant or product they were taking. This lack of identification is a critical detail, as it suggests that many women are consuming remedies obtained from informal sources where the ingredients are not labeled or standardized. The most common reason for using these remedies was to treat urinary tract infections, followed by pain relief and skin conditions.
The study also uncovered a troubling gap in communication between patients and healthcare providers. While nearly 30 percent of the women who used herbal medicine were also taking conventional medicines prescribed by doctors, only about 9 percent had ever told their health workers about their herbal use. This silence creates a hidden risk. If a doctor does not know a patient is taking a specific plant preparation, they cannot assess whether it might interact with a prescribed drug or pose a threat to the pregnancy. Furthermore, the majority of these remedies came from family members or friends rather than from trained traditional healers or formal markets, highlighting a reliance on personal networks for health advice.
The researchers identified several factors that made a woman more likely to use herbal medicine. Women who had experienced complications in previous pregnancies were more likely to turn to herbs in subsequent ones, perhaps seeking extra protection or alternative solutions after a difficult past experience. Similarly, women who faced barriers to accessing formal healthcare—such as long distances to clinics, high costs, or unfriendly staff—were more likely to rely on traditional remedies. The study also found a link between alcohol use and herbal medicine use, suggesting that certain health behaviors might cluster together within the community. Perhaps most significantly, women who believed that herbal medicines were effective were far more likely to use them, regardless of whether they had been formally taught about their safety.
Despite the high usage, the study did not find that women who used herbs were necessarily more educated or wealthier; the practice cut across different economic and educational groups. The researchers noted that while the study provides a clear snapshot of the situation, it cannot prove that one factor directly causes another. For instance, while women with past complications used more herbs, the study design means we cannot say for certain that the complications caused the herb use, or that other underlying factors influenced both. Additionally, because the data relied on what women told the interviewers, there is a possibility that some women did not admit to using herbs due to fear of judgment, which could mean the actual numbers are even higher.
The implications of these findings are clear for the future of maternal care in the region. The authors suggest that healthcare workers need to be trained to ask about herbal use in a non-judgmental way, creating an environment where women feel safe to disclose what they are taking. Routine screening for herbal medicine use should become a standard part of prenatal and postnatal visits, just as checking blood pressure or weight is today. By integrating these conversations into regular care, doctors can better advise on safety, prevent dangerous drug interactions, and help bridge the gap between traditional practices and modern medicine. The study concludes that addressing the barriers that drive women to seek informal care, while respecting their cultural traditions, is the most effective path forward to protecting the health of mothers and their babies in Eastern Uganda.
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