Languages: 
A research study at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) has investigated the safety of using traditional medicine by pregnant women.
Master of Arts graduate at WSU, Asavela Kasa who recently graduated with cum laude for her research titled Health Seeking Behavior of traditional women Using Traditional Medicine: A case Study of Lalini Location, Qumbu Village.
Kasa is the principal researcher of the study under the supervision of Dr Nelly Sharpley from the Department of Arts.
This research focused mostly on the experiences of women using traditional medicines in the given location. The experiences addressed in this research were: their choice of health support for fertility and pregnancy, what influenced their decisions on the choices of traditional usage for conception and during pregnancy.
Kasa said that her interest in the topic was instigated by seeing a lot of women in her village using traditional medicine to try and conceive and even during the nine months of pregnancy they continue using the traditional concoctions.
The research which was conducted in Lalini Location, Qumbu, has discovered that most women in rural areas used traditional medicine during their pregnancy because of staying in remote areas and far from healthcare facilities.
“One of the traditional medicines that they use is isihlambezo, the medicine is consumed by a pregnant woman in their second trimester of pregnancy until the baby is born. The plant is grown in a glass of water and the woman has to drink it every morning and evening to deliver a healthy baby,” said Kasa.
Kasa further added that those who had challenges conceiving were using a plant called Umayime that you infuse its roots and its leaves and mix them with warm water to drink, it is believed to treat infertility.
“The use of these medicines is common amongst women between the ages of 25 to 35 who are believed to be persuaded by their families or in-laws to use them and most of these women are uneducated, they either did not finish high school or have not entered university,” added Kasa.
These women use both traditional methods and western medicine when they manage to get access to health care facilities. The research has discovered that there were no complications experienced by these women when using the traditional medicines.
Other traditional medicines used were umchamo wemfene which is believed to cleanse the bladder and aloe which cleanses the womb.
Kasa will then add a scientific testing of the noted plants and medicines as to confirm their chemical components and safety in pregnancy as indicated by the users.
Sharpley said that the next level of this research is a doctoral study that the student has to pursue.
“Her promising scholarship will surely add into the population perspectives of fertility by taking on the African approach in the study of fertility globally,” concluded Sharpley.
Anita Roji
