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Phillip Musoke,1 Brandy Nantaayi,1 Rodney Kato Ndawula,1 Babrah Wannyana,2 Nelson Ssewante,1 Godfrey Wekha,1 Ronald Olum,1 Lourita Nakyagaba,1 Dianah Rhoda Nassozi,3 Germinah Nabukeera,4 Andrew Marvin Kanyike,5 Daniel Ojilong,5 Gabriel Madut Akech,5 Jonathan Kajjimu,6 Joshua Kiwumulo,7 Drake Agira,7 Jerom Okot,7 Felix Bongomin1,8 1School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 2School of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry, Kampala International University Western Campus, Bushenyi, Uganda; 3School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 4School of Medicine, Kabale University, Kabale, Uganda; 5Faculty of Health Sciences, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda; 6Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda; 7Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda; 8Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, UgandaCorrespondence: Felix BongominDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, P. O. Box, 166, Gulu, UgandaEmail drbongomin@gmail.comBackground: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created fear in people around the world. This has led to the widespread use of various herbal remedies in its prevention and treatment regardless of the paucity of scientific evidence about their safety and efficacy. This study assessed the fear of COVID-19 and the influence of media on the use of herbal medicine to prevent or treat COVID-19 in Uganda.Methods: In the first 2 weeks of July 2021, a descriptive online cross-sectional study was carried out anonymously in the general population in Uganda. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data on herbal medicine use and the influence of media. Fear of COVID-19 was rated using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S).Results: We recruited 488 participants, 273 (55.9%) were female, with a median age of 25 (range: 18– 73) years. Sixty-seven (57.8%) participants had a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. The mean FCV-19S score was 21.7 SD 5.9 with 53.3% reporting high levels of COVID-19 fear. About 57.4% of participants reported using herbal remedies either to prevent or treat COVID-19-like symptoms. Media was the main source of information, with more than 80% of the participants reporting seeing or accessing information about herbal medication use. Women (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.74, 95% CI: 1.2– 2.5, p=0.003) and people with a previously confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis (aOR: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.35– 7.14, p=0.008) had a statistically significantly higher FCV-19S score. Being unemployed (aOR: 1.0, 95% CI: 1.1– 2.3, p=0.008) and a female (aOR: 1.0, 95% CI: 1.1– 2.3, p=0.012) were statistically significantly associated with herbal medicine use. Participants who used herbal remedies had a higher median FCV-19S score compared to non-users (23 versus 21, p< 0.001).Conclusion: The use of herbal medicines to treat or prevent COVID-19 is a widespread practice among the general population in Uganda amidst the high levels of fear of COVID-19.Keywords: COVID-19, fear, media, herbal medicine, health awareness, Uganda |
