The Use of Indigenous Medicine Among Women During Pregnancy and Labour in Rural Ghana

The increasing use of herbal medicine and related products in pregnancy has been noticed all over the world, however, the safety of these medicines becomes particularly important among pregnant women and children. In spite of the insufficient data to justify herbal use during pregnancy, exposure to herbal products in unspecified quantities among pregnant women is of great concern. This study assessed the determinants of herbal use (Kaligu-tim), a known local oxytocin and its impact on the maternal birth outcomes in a rural district in Ghana. Descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. It consisted of 339 women attending postnatal care and child welfare clinics across the district. Data collection was done using a structured questionnaire. The selection of respondents was done using a systematic sampling technique. The data were coded and entered into SPSS version 22.0 for analysis. From the study, 64.9% and 45.4% of respondents had used local oxytocin in their previous and current pregnancies respectively; 5.5% did so during the first trimester, 26.8% in the second trimester and 67.7% in the third trimester. The study found a significant relationship between the use of herbal medicine and health service-related challenges, maternal age, the gestational term at delivery, parity of the respondents and mothers’ ethnicity. Previous and current use of Kaligu-tim reduced birth weight by 26g and 34.3g respectively, though these were not statistically significant. However, the previous history of Kaligu-tim was significantly associated with perinatal asphyxia, postpartum haemorrhage, obstructed labour and foetal distress in their subsequent deliveries. It can be concluded that the use of this Kaligu-tim possesses a greater long term health challenge for mothers and their babies.