The Use Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine Among Adults Hiv Patients In Esut Teaching Hospital, Parklane Enugu

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Since the first case of HIV/AIDS was reported in Nigeria in 1986,

HIV/AIDS has continued to penetrate the fabrics of all sectors of

the Nigerian population and the complex health and social issues

associated with living with HIV has made the people living with

HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) to often turned to complementary and

alternative medicine (CAM) to compliment their management with

antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study was to explore the

prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use among

HIV/AIDS patients attending clinic in ESUT Teaching Hospital Park

lane Enugu.

METHODOLOGY

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using the selfadministered

questionnaire. A random sampling probability

sampling method was used and the questionnaire was distributed

to 203 HIV/AIDS patients attending clinic in ESUT Teaching

Hospital Park lane Enugu. Data were analyzed using descriptive

statistics.

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RESULTS

Almost half of the people living with HIV/AIDS used complementary

and alternative medicine(49.8) while the three most popular types of

CAM used were faith healing/prayer house healing 36(35.64%),

moringa 26(25.74%) and vitamin mineral product supplement

13(12.87%). The most popular reason for CAM use was keeping

with your inner self/believe 47(32.41%). Under gender, females

have the most consumption rate of CAM 73(46.2%). The age range

30-39 with 24(48.97%) mostly use CAM. Respondents with less than

N10,000 income used CAM mostly 20(21.78%) while secondary

school students consumed CAM mostly 20(21.05%) under

education. Christians use CAM more than any other religion

48(24.4%).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, more awareness should be created among secondary

students so that they should not leave their HIV drugs in place of complementary and alternative medicine.