Traditional Medicine Use among Type 2 Diabetes Patients in KZN
Table 3
Traditional medicine use among type 2 diabetes patients (N = 92).
TM practices
Total n (%)
Duration of traditional medicine use (n = 89)
<12 months
7 (7.87)
1 year
20 (22.47)
2–3 yrs
16 (16.85)
3–5 yrs
16 (16.85)
More than 5 yrs
32 (35.96)
Frequency of traditional medicine use (n = 89)
Once a day
47 (52.81)
Twice a day
15 (16.85)
3 or more times a day
7 (7.87)
3 times a week
1 (1.12)
Once a month
2 (2.25)
Less frequent
6 (6.74)
Other
11 (12.36)
Reasons for using traditional medicine (n = 89)
Controls my high blood glucose levels
74 (83.15)
I experience fewer side effects when compared to my tablets
18 (20.22)
I do not have health problems
19 (21.35)
It’s cheap
29 (32.58)
Traditional medicine used when my BGL is high (n = 88)
79 (88.77)
Traditional medicine used when my BGL is low (n = 87)
48 (55.17)
Satisfied with medication given by hospital (n = 86)
75 (87.21)
Hospital medication stopped when taking traditional medicine (n = 86)
No
72 (83.72)
Yes
12 (13.95)
Sometimes
2 (2.33)
Traditional medicine used in conjunction with hospital medication (n = 86)
No
14 (16.28)
Yes
72 (83.72)
Source of information about traditional medicine (n = 87)
Doctor
6 (6.90))
Pharmacy
1 (1.15)
Magazine
2 (2.30)
Family
49 (56.32)
Friends
47 (54.02)
People waiting in queue
4 (4.60)
Radio
4 (4.60)
Internet
3 (3.45)
Nurses
11 (12.64)
Perceived therapeutic effects from the use of traditional medicine (n = 89)
No
2 (2.26)
Yes
77 (85.71)
Not sure
10 (12.03)
Recommend traditional medicine to others (n = 88)
No
6 (6.82)
Yes
79 (89.77)
Not sure
3 (3.41)
Some participants have not responded to all the questions, which accounts for the varying numbers (n). Participants have responded to more than one answer.
