Awareness and attitude of mothers about herbal medicine used to treat children aged under 5 years in Shendi City, Sudan

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shendi City, Sudan, from August to December 2016 to ssess the awareness and attitude of mothers regarding herbal medicine used in treating children aged nder 5 years. A hundred participants were included and data were collected using a structured uestionnaire. Participants were found aware of the concept of using herbs as alternative medicine, ither as a replacement or adjuncts for treatment of mild illness such as a common cold, diarrhea and ough. The main reasons found for the use of herbs were their cheapness, availability and side effects ree. The important source of information about the nature of plants was from grandmothers and media. Finally, physicians and nurses recommended regulating lectures on herbal medicine and its ses in proper ways.