title: Medicinal plants used by traditional medicine practitioners for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and related conditions in Uganda.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Uganda, there are over one million people with HIV/AIDS. When advanced, this disease is characterized by life-threatening opportunistic infections. As the formal health sector struggles to confront this epidemic, new medicines from traditional sources are needed to complement control efforts. This study was conducted to document herbal medicines used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and related opportunistic infections, and to document the existing knowledge, attitudes and practices related to HIV/AIDS recognition, control and treatment in Sembabule, Kamuli, Kabale and Gulu districts in Uganda.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 25 traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) were interviewed using structured questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TMPs could recognize important signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS and its associated opportunistic infections. The majority of practitioners treated patients who were already receiving allopathic medicines including antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) prescribed by allopathic practitioners. There were 103 species of medicinal plants identified in this survey. Priority plants identified include Aloe spp., Erythrina abyssinica, Sarcocephalus latifolius, Psorospermum febrifugum, Mangifera indica and Warburgia salutaris. There was low consensus among TMPs on the plants used. Decoctions of multiple plant species were commonly used except in Gulu where mono-preparations were common. Plant parts frequently used were leaves (33%), stem bark (23%) and root bark (18%). About 80% of preparations were administered orally in variable doses over varied time periods. The TMP had insufficient knowledge about packaging and preservation techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Numerous medicinal plants for treatment of HIV/AIDS patients were identified in the four districts surveyed and the role of these plants in the management of opportunistic infections warrants further investigation as these plants may have a role in Uganda's public health approach to HIV/AIDS control.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda. mlamorde@idi.co.ug
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lamorde
authors.forename: John R S
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Tabuti
authors.forename: Celestino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Obua
authors.forename: Collins
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kukunda-Byobona
authors.forename: Hindam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lanyero
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Byakika-Kibwika
authors.forename: Godfrey S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Bbosa
authors.forename: Aloysius
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lubega
authors.forename: Jasper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ogwal-Okeng
authors.forename: Mairin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Waako
authors.forename: Concepta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Merry
mesh_terms: D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda