Page 42 - IJPS-10-3

International Journal of
Population Studies Traditional practices of herbal medicine in Malawi

The HBM suggests six main constructs that influence Moreover, the discussion section of the present study
people’s decision-making regarding whether taking action coordinates the study findings and the building blocks of
could prevent or control diseases: the theory to guide the researchers on the recommendations
(i). Perceived susceptibility, which explains a belief that for addressing herbal medicine use during pregnancy and
one will contract or not contract a disease. In the labor in rural communities in Malawi.
context of this study, women who have had a positive
past experience of using herbal medicine may have 2. Data and methods
a preconceived belief that it will not result in a 2.1. Study design and setting
complication in her.
(ii). Perceived threat, which explains how individuals We adopted the qualitative descriptive (QD) design while
perceive the threat or gravity of a particular health conducting this study. The QD design minimizes the
condition or problem. For instance, if a woman has chances of verbal misrepresentations, which often arise
knowledge of adverse outcomes of herbal medicine during field data transformation. This is achieved with
use during pregnancy and labor such as ruptured the minimization of alterations to data, words, and events,
uterus or severe birth asphyxia, it is very unlikely that which is more lenient in ethnographic or narrative study
she will be influenced to use it. designs (Bradshaw et al., 2017). We purposively selected
(iii). Perceived benefit, which states that people believe study participants from four villages under the Traditional
that taking action to prevent harm/disease reduces Authority Malili in rural Lilongwe, Malawi. These villages
susceptibility to the condition. In the current study, — Kagona, Champsinja, Mthupi, and Manja — are
women would perceive the potential advantages located five kilometers from the mid-south part of Likuni
associated with herbal medicine use, that is, quick community in Lilongwe city. Residents from these villages,
relief of labor pains and hastened labor, which including women, access health-care services in the two
influence their decision to use. nearest hospitals located at Bwaila and Likuni. Anecdotal
(iv). Perceived barrier, which explains that people can take data show that out of 101 women admitted at the two
action if they believe that the cost of taking action are medical centers, 25% had used herbal medicine during
outweighed by the benefits. For instance, women may pregnancy and childbirth. Thus, this study was conducted
consider abstaining from herbal medicine use during within the settings required by the qualitative study design
pregnancy if they opt for normal, non-hastened where the phenomenon being explored presents itself as if
delivery and believe that there are more benefits than it were not under the study, so that we could reduce biased
the associated harm in not using herbal medicine. cases (Sandelowski, 2000).
(v). Cues to action, which explains that people can only act
positively if they have ever been exposed to factors that 2.2. Recruitment and sampling
prompt action. For instance, a bad or good obstetric The inclusion criteria of this study are described in the
outcome after using herbal medicine for any intention following. Only adult women aged 18 years and above
will inform the behavior in the other pregnancies. at the time of the study, who had experienced at least
Health education from health workers, media, family two deliveries (parity 2), and who had given consent to
and friends are other forms of cues to influence action. participate in this study, were considered for recruitment.
(vi). Self-efficacy, which explains the instance whereby an In addition, only women who agreed to share their lived
individual feels confident that can act to achieve the experiences on the use of herbal medicine were recruited
desired outcome. For instance, a woman will choose for interviews. We requested these women to provide
to use herbal medicine if she is influenced by the belief demographic information, such as age, religion, and
that herbal medicine can accelerate labor. education levels, which were included in the analysis. In

This study was therefore guided by the theories and total, 28 women were enrolled in this study.
concepts of the HBM by highlighting insights on some 2.3. Method of data collection
of the factors influencing women’s use of herbal medicine
during pregnancy and labor (Figure 1). The theories from Data collection was conducted through focus group
the HBM also provided us with opportunities to establish discussions, where each participant was given a semi-
the sources of information leading to herbal medicine use structured interview guide from December 21–30, 2020.
during pregnancy and labor. Thus, adoption of the HBM The guide was designed to collect normative views on their
gave more insights to understand why women still use sources of information and factors that influence their
herbal medicine during pregnancy despite the prevention decision to use herbal medicine during pregnancy and
messages in the media and different cues to action. childbirth. Some of the included questions are: How did you

Volume 10 Issue 3 (2024) 36 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.0296