Table 3.
Reasons and dosage for herbal medicine use among patients on HAART at TASO Uganda, during 2008
| Variable | Frequency (N = 135) | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| ***Reasons for herbal use | ||
| Constant Fever | 91 | 67.4 |
| Too much Cough | 88 | 65.2 |
| General pain of HIV | 71 | 52.6 |
| Itchy skin | 58 | 43.0 |
| Others | 58 | 43.0 |
| To gain Energy | 52 | 38.5 |
| Was Anemic | 39 | 28.9 |
| Always fall sick | 39 | 28.9 |
| Low immunity | 19 | 14.1 |
| Loss/gain Appetite | 18 | 13.3 |
| Diarrhea | 16 | 11.9 |
| Too much sweat | 11 | 8.1 |
| Herbal dosage per day | ||
| Half to one cup/glass | 128 | 94.8 |
| One to two spoons | 60 | 44.4 |
| No measurements | 17 | 12.6 |
| Where herbs were got from | ||
| Herbalist | 54 | 40 |
| Garden | 63 | 46.7 |
| Friends/relatives | 14 | 10.4 |
| Pharmacy | 4 | 7 |
| **Experienced improvement with use of herbs | ||
| Yes | 130 | 96.3 |
| Cannot tell | 5 | 3.7 |
| Decision of herbal use | ||
| Friends | 71 | 52.6 |
| Parents/Relatives | 38 | 28.1 |
| Own decision/No one | 26 | 19.3 |
| Patient's belief/perception of usefulness of ARVS | ||
| ARVs not yet helpful | 35 | 25.9 |
| ARVs helpful | 100 | 74.1 |
** including all those who had ever used herbs before and after initiation on HAART
***Others include body swells (1.17%) vaginal wounds (1.01%), syphilis (1.17%), TB (0.67%), painful legs (1.17%), herpes (1%) and others