Association between the use of herbal medicines during pregnancy and adverse fetal outcomes among mothers in eastern Ethiopia, 2023

Background: Nowadays, pregnant women around the world use herbal remedies extensively. Evidence illustrated that the association between the use of herbal medicines and unfavorable fetal outcomes is not well established. Furthermore, much of the existing research is conducted within medical facilities, which may result in excluding mothers who do not receive antenatal follow-up care. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association between the use of herbal medicine and adverse fetal outcomes in eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 882 randomly selected mothers from February 1, 2023 to November 1, 2023. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires adapted from previous literature. The dataset was analyzed using Stata version 18, and a modified Poisson regression model was applied. Adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) with 95 % confidence intervals were estimated. Results: The prevalence of herbal medicines use among pregnant women in eastern Ethiopia was 43.2 % (95 % CI: 39.9, 46.5). The most commonly used herbal medicines were Ocimum lamiifolium 109 (29.1 %), pumpkin fruit 68 (18.2 %) and Rutachalepensis 61(16.3 %). Factors such as rural residency [APR = 1.27, 95%CI (1.01,1.59)], having obstetric complications in recent pregnancy [APR = 1.42, 95 % CI: (1.14,1.78)], and experiencing adverse fetal outcomes [APR = 1.59, 95%CI: (1.05,2.2)] were significantly associated with the use of herbal medicine. Conclusions: More than two out of five mothers used herbal remedies during their recent pregnancy. The study identified a significant association between the use of herbal medicines and various sociodemographic and obstetric factors. Consequently, it is essential to establish the safety and effectiveness of herbal medications before their use during pregnancy. To address the diverse health needs of pregnant women and mitigate the risks associated with the indiscriminate use of herbal remedies, a collaborative strategy should be developed involving herbalists, communities with strong beliefs in herbal medicine, and healthcare professionals.