Abstract:

Background: Traditional medicine use is shown to be associated with delays in access to conventional treatment as well as abandonment of therapy. In high-income countries, more than 80% of children with cancer are cured compared to the 20% cure rate in low and middle income countries. Treatment initiation delay due to traditional medicine use is a known factor influencing poor countries. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of traditional medicines use among children presenting with cancer to Bugando Medical Centre, and to evaluate the factors which influence their use.

Methods: The is a descriptive cross-sectional study to determine the use of traditional medicine among children diagnoses with cancer attending the pediatric cancer clinic at Bugando Medical Centre over 1-month period. A convenience sampling method was used to collect information from caregivers. A questionnaire was used to collect the following information from parents/caregivers: demographics, religion, and rate of traditional medicine use, traditional medicine used, and reasons why parents/ family seeks for traditional medicine. Data was analyzed using STATA version 16.

Results: Fifty nine (59) caregivers were included in the survey, 58.0% (n=34) of all respondents reported the use of traditional medicine for the treatment of their children’s cancer, including 22.0% (n=13) who consulted the traditional healer. Most common reasons to seek traditional medicine was based on advice from relatives or the belief that the symptoms were a result of witchcraft. The living in a rural area was correlated with increased use of traditional medicine (p < 0.05). Abdominal swelling most commonly noted symptom (27.1%). For those who consulted the TH, the majority of patients (61.5%) received a diagnosis of bewitchment.

Conclusion: Traditional healers and providers of traditional medicine should also be incorporated into training efforts for cancer awareness in the region to further efforts to decrease referral delay.