Page 44 - IJPS-10-3

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

Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of study – 24 (32.14%) and 25 – 29 (32.14%). Out of the 28 women,
participants (N=28) 21 (75%) were married, and 57.14% of them had an
average of three deliveries (parity 2 – 3) at the time of this
Variable Number of participants (%) study. Furthermore, 21 participants (75%) had completed
Age primary school education at the time of the survey. In terms
20 – 24 9 (32.14) of religion, 92.86% of the participants were Christians,
25 – 29 9 (32.14) while the remaining (7.14%) were Muslims (Table 1).
30 – 34 6 (21.43) Narratively, the findings were categorized into two major
35 – 39 3 (10.71) themes, namely, influencing factors of herbal medicine
40 and above 1 (3.58) use during pregnancy and childbirth, and sources of
Marital status information regarding herbal medicine use. Each of these
Married 21 (75.0) themes was then further divided into subthemes. Themes
Divorced 3 (10.71) and subthemes are presented in Table 2.
Widowed 3 (10.71) 3.2. Influencing factors
Single 1 (3.58) Women in this study cited various reasons as to why they
Deliveries (parity) resorted to using herbal medicine. Some of the driving
2 – 3 16 (57.14) factors mentioned were previous obstetric experiences
4 – 5 10 (35.71) (both negative and positive), quick relief from labor
6 and above 2 (7.15) pain, hastened delivery process, fear of abandonment by
Religious affiliation guardian during childbirth, and encouragement from
Christianity 26 (92.86) peers (friends).
Islam 2 (7.14) 3.2.1. Previous obstetric experiences
Highest education level Previous obstetric experience was reported as a propeller
None 1 (3.57) for women to use herbal medicine during pregnancy
Primary education 21 (75.0) and childbirth. Based on a few participants’ narratives,
Secondary education 6 (21.43) previous successful experiences following the use of herbal
medicine would influence one to reuse herbal medicine
during pregnancy and childbirth. Most of them claimed
Table 2. Themes and subthemes of the study that they would use herbal medicine again since their
children were delivered with non-cesarean methods. This
Themes Subthemes perceived association has influenced the participants to use
Influencing Previous obstetric experiences (negative and positive) herbal medicine so that they can avoid delivering through
factors Quick relief from labor pain the cesarean section. The following quotes illustrate this:
Hastened delivery process “And also, it happens that you had a cesarean section
Fear of abandonment by guardian during child birth in your first pregnancy.and when you get the second
Encouragements from peers (friends) pregnancy.you go to the traditional birth attendant to
Sources of Traditional birth attendant take herbal medicine...when your labor starts you find
information Peers (friends, women) that you end up having a normal delivery.meaning that
about HM use things have gone well”. (Participant #2 FGD4)
Parents or guardians (including mother and
grandmother) Past experiences were also expressed from a different
Radio perspective. Some women who had bad obstetric history,
Market advertisements for example, miscarriages, resorted to taking herbal
medicine to safeguard their pregnancies.
“When some women experience consecutive
3. Findings miscarriages, they rush to the traditional birth
attendants for herbal medicine so that the pregnancy is
3.1. Characteristics of study participants never miscarried. So those are the issues that influence
A total of 28 women were recruited and interviewed in this other women to seek care from traditional birth
study. Most of the participants were in the age groups of 20 attendants…” (Participant #3 FGD1)

Volume 10 Issue 3 (2024) 38 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.0296