title: Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine use by HIV patients a decade after public sector antiretroviral therapy roll out in South Africa: a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The roll out of antiretroviral therapy in the South African public health sector in 2004 was preceded by the politicisation of HIV-infection which was used to promote traditional medicine for the management of HIV/AIDS. One decade has passed since; however, questions remain on the extent of the use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) by HIV-infected patients. This study therefore aimed at investigating the prevalence of the use of African traditional medicine (ATM), complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) by adult patients in the eThekwini and UThukela Health Districts, South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross- sectional study was carried out at 8 public health sector antiretroviral clinics using interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaires. These were completed from April to October 2014 by adult patients who had been on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least three months. Use of TCAM by patients was analysed by descriptive statistics using frequency and percentages with standard error. Where the associated relative error was equal or greater to 0.50, the percentage was rejected as unstable. A p-value <0.05 was estimated as statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the 1748 participants were Black Africans (1685/1748, 96.40 %, SE: 0.00045), followed by Coloured (39/1748, 2.23 %, SE: 0.02364), Indian (17/1748, 0.97 %, SE: 0.02377), and Whites (4/1748, 0.23 %, SE: 0.02324), p < 0.05. The prevalence of ATM use varied prior to (382/1748, 21.85 %) and after ART initiation (142/1748, 8.12 %), p <0.05, specifically by Black African females both before (14.41 %) and after uptake (5.49 %), p < 0.05. Overall, 35 Black Africans, one Coloured and one Indian (37/1748, 2.12 %) reported visiting CAM practitioners for their HIV condition and related symptoms post ART.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a progressive implementation of a successful antiretroviral programme over the first decade of free antiretroviral therapy in the South African public health sector, the use of TCAM is still prevalent amongst a small percentage of HIV infected patients attending public healthcare sector antiretroviral clinics. Further research is needed to explore reasons for use and health benefits or risks experienced by the minority that uses both conventional antiretroviral therapy with TCAM.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X 54001, Durban, South Africa. Nlooto@ukzn.ac.za.
authors.forename: Manimbulu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nlooto
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X 54001, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: Panjasaram
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Naidoo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D017150:Public Sector; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: African Traditional; Alternative Medicine; Antiretroviral therapy; Complementary; HIV; Prevalence