PREVALENCE OF CONCURRENT USE OF HERBAL AND SYNTHETIC MEDICINES AMONG OUTPATIENTS IN A MISSION HOSPITAL IN NIGERIA

Purpose: To study the prevalence of concurrent use of herbal and synthetic medicines among outpatients in a missionhospital in Nigeria.Methods: A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 278 outpatient respondents in a missionhospital.Results: One hundred and ninety three (69.4%) of the study population had used herbal and synthetic drugs concurrentlywithin one-month of the study period. The top three conditions for which they were used were Malaria (88.5%), typhoidfever (69.8%), cough and sore throat (60.1%) and asthma (19.1%) was the least. Concurrent use of herbal and syntheticdrugs was significantly associated with age group (p< 0.001), gender (p = 0.026), monthly income (p < 0.001) and level ofrespondent s education (p < 0.001). Using multiple logistic regression models, the risk estimate of using of herbal drugsalong side with synthetic drugs was higher among the middle aged (40- 59 years) group (OR: 2.4; 1.60 - 3.22). The riskwas least common among age of ≥ 60 years (OR: 0.16; 0.18-0.21) compared to youngest age group. The practice washigher among females (OR: 2.8; 2.2 -3.4) compared to males. The risk was most common among the middle income group(OR: 4.2; 3.1-6.4) and it was increasing as the education level of the respondents increased.Conclusion: The prevalence of concurrent use of herbal and synthetic medicines in Nsukka is high. This could be thereflection of what is happening in whole Nigeria. The risk of this practice is significantly associated with demographic andsocio-economic characteristics of respondents.