Table 1 Socio- demographic and health related factors associated with herbal medicines use
Characteristics | Variables | Users n (%) | Non-users n (%) | Total n (%) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age Group | <20 years | 19(13.6) | 42(17.6) | 61(16.1) | 0.303 |
20-29 years | 84(60.0) | 149(62.6) | 233(61.6) | ||
30–39 years | 35(25.0) | 46(19.3) | 81(21.4) | ||
40–49 years | 2(1.4) | 1(0.4) | 3(0.8) | ||
Religion | Christian | 50(35.7) | 87(36.6) | 137(36.2) | 0.870 |
Muslim | 90(64.3)) | 151(63.4) | 241(63.8) | ||
Marital status | Single | 37(26.4) | 55(23.1) | 92(24.3) | 0.434 |
Married | 89(63.6) | 149(62.6) | 238(63.0) | ||
Co-habitating | 14(10.0) | 34(14.3) | 48(12.7) | ||
Place of Origin | Outside of Western Area | 133(95.0) | 213(89.5) | 346(91.5) | 0.063 |
Western Area | 7(5.0) | 25(10.5) | 32(8.5) | ||
Tribe | Temne | 57(40.7) | 93(39.1) | 150(39.7) | 0.753 |
Others | 83(59.3) | 145(60.9) | 228(60.3) | ||
Educational status | Non-formal | 51(36.4) | 81(34.0) | 132(34.9) | 0.178 |
Primary | 8(5.7) | 11(4.6) | 19(5.0) | ||
Secondary | 73(52.1) | 116(48.7) | 189(50.0) | ||
Tertiary | 8(5.7) | 30(12.6) | 38(10.1%) | ||
Employment status | Employed | 73(52.1) | 111(46.6) | 184(48.7) | 0.301 |
Un- employed | 67(47.3) | 127(53.4) | 194(51.3) | ||
Monthly income | <  1 million Leones | 135(96.4) | 228(95.8) | 363(96.0) | 0.895 |
1–3.5millions Leones | 4(2.9) | 9(3.8) | 13(3.4) | ||
> 3.5million Leones | 1(0.7) | 1(0.4) | 2(0.5) | ||
No of children do you have including one currently being breastfed | One | 60(42.9) | 115(48.3) | 175(46.3) | 0.304 |
More than one | 80(57.1) | 123(51.7) | 203(53.7) | ||
Age in months of child currently being breastfed | 0-6 months | 85(60.7) | 179(75.2) | 264(69.8) | 0.003 |
7-12 months | 55(39.3) | 59(24.8) | 114(30.2) | ||
Gender of child currently breastfed | Male | 73(52.1) | 122(51.3) | 195(51.6) | 0.868 |
Female | 67(47.9) | 116(48.7) | 183(48.4) | ||
Is this your first child you have given birth to? | Yes | 54(38.6) | 113(47.5) | 167(44.2) | 0.092 |
No | 86(61.4) | 125(52.8) | 225(56.3) | ||
Perceived health status of current child | Healthy | 79(56.4) | 159(66.8) | 238(63.0) | 0.044 |
Sick | 61(43.6) | 79(33.2) | 140(37.0) | ||
Mother perceived health status | Healthy | 133(95.0) | 232(97.5) | 365(96.6) | 0.202 |
Sick | 7(5.0) | 6(2.5) | 13(3.4) | ||
Living with your parent or partner’s parent | Yes | 57(40.7) | 80(33.6) | 137(36.2) | 0.165 |
No | 83(59.3) | 158(66.4) | 241(63.8) | ||
Role of parent or partner’s parent on mother’s health | Greater influence | 99(70.7) | 167(70.2) | 266(70.4) | 0.911 |
Little or no influence | 41(29.3) | 71(29.8) | 112(29.6) | ||
Use of other product or special diet to increase breast milk production | Yes | 131(93.6) | 224(94.1) | 355(93.9) | 0.830 |
No | 9(6.4) | 14(5.9) | 23(6.1) | ||
Herbal medicine is efficacious than conventional medicine | Agree | 44(31.4) | 49(20.6) | 93(24.6) | 0.047 |
Neutral | 2(1.4) | 7(2.9) | 9(2.4) | ||
Disagree | 94(67.1) | 182(76.5) | 276(73.0) | ||
Herbal medicine is safer than conventional medicine | Agree | 42(30.0) | 480(20.2) | 90(23.8) | 0.092 |
Neutral | 3(2.1) | 7(2.9) | 10(2.6) | ||
Disagree | 95(67.9) | 183(76.9) | 278(73.5) |