Use of complementary medicines among HIV-infected children in Lagos, Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Complementary medicine (CM) use is common among children with chronic illnesses such as epilepsy and asthma. Lack of data on the profile of CM use among children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection necessitated this study.


METHODS
Parents or caregivers of HIV-infected children attending the paediatric HIV-clinic in a teaching hospital in Lagos, Nigeria, were randomly selected and interviewed with a semi-structured (open- and close-ended) questionnaire. Clinical details of the patients were extracted from their case files.


RESULTS
A total of 187 parents/caregivers were interviewed. Most of the parents/caregivers (181; 96.8%) have used CMs for their children. Mind-body interventions (181; 36.6%) and biological products (179; 36.2%) were frequently used. Relatives, friends and neighbours influenced CM use in 37.1% of the children. CMs were used mostly to treat weight loss (79; 43.7%), cold (40; 22.1%), and fever (39; 21.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
CM use is common among HIV-infected children in Lagos.
Department of Pharmacology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Electronic address: med_modhospital@yahoo.com.
K A
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Oshikoya
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idiaraba, Lagos, Nigeria.
I A
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Oreagba
Department of Pharmacology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
O O
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Ogunleye
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idiaraba, Lagos, Nigeria.
M
M
Hassan
Department of Paediatric and Child Health, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
I O
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Senbanjo
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Adverse effect; Children; Complementary medicine; HIV-infection; Prevalence