ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional study evaluated the use of complementary and alternative medicine and supplements by diabetics attending Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia; Abia State. A total of 440 diabetic patients were purposively selected from the Diabetic attendance record of the state. Structured questions was used  to elicit information on the demographic and socio economic characteristics of respondents, the use complementary and alternatives medicine and supplements among patients attending FMC Umuahia, patients’ knowledge and attitude of the use of CAM and Supplements, Prevalence and Patterns for the use CAM and supplements, Factors Associated with use of CAM and supplements. SPSS (Vession 22) was used to analyse the data, descriptive statistics, pearsons correlation, multiple regression and chi-square test was employed in entry the data. Result showed that  215 (48.9%) of the respondents were 56years above, and 208 (47.3%) were between 46-55year indicating that majority of the sufferers of this illness are mostly elderly ones. More of the respondents were female (274, 62.3%) and 166 (37.7%) are male and this indicated that women are at higher risk of been diabetic later in life, married (405, 92.0%), this may be because of poor nutrition attached to the means of keeping a household or family as 52.9% had 3-4children and 35.3% had 1-2children. They were more of traders (231, 52.5%) and farmers (112, 25.5%) as these occupations are stress and needs loads of energy to be done and thus they consume more of energy giving food which got them diabetic. 208 (47.3%) and 197 (44.8%) earned less than 30,000naira and between 31,000naira-60,000 naira respectively; and as low income earners. Their CAM consumption ranges from 2-3 times weekly, once weekly, and did not consume CAM. This pointed out not too many of them used the selected CAM. Many of the respondents claimed to have consulted the doctor on the use of CAM and supplements while a handful did not. All of them had a source of either from their relatives, from mass media, from social media, from medical doctors, and from friends. A large number of respondents had their services rendered to them by the CAM practitioners. More than half of the respondents used CAM on a weekly basis and their consideration for usage was almost at the same percentage across the options “no,” “yes,” “not decided,” and “no response.” The prevalence, patterns, and factors associated with the use of CAM and supplements revealed that the visiting varied across the duration given. More respondents visited government facility and private facility last for their treatment. The study further recommended that there should be community based programmes on CAM and supplements should be made to enlighten and educate people in general especially in the markets, as more respondents claimed to be traders and artisans, across the federation.