Table 1 The characteristics of the included studies
S. â„– | Author, year of publication | Region/city administration | Population type, setting, and the study design | Sample size | Response rate (%) | Age ( in years) | Prevalence of TM use (N) | Prevalence of herbal medicine use (N) | Perceived main reasons for TM/herbal medicine use | Most frequently used herbal medicine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|  | Abeje et al. [18], 2015 | Amhara | Pregnant women, urban, health facility-based | 510 | 100 | 26.5 ±6.0 | 40 | 39 | Previous use experience | Zingeber officinale (ginger), Allium sativum (garlic or Nechi shinkurit), Zehneria scabra (aregresa), Hageenia abyyssinica (kosso), and Cucurbita pepo L (Duba) |
|  | Addis et al. [19], 2021 | Amhara | Pregnant women, urban, community-based | 267 | 98.2 | 32.68± 6.47 |  | 95 | Ease of availability | Zingiber officinale (Ginger), Ruta chalepensis ( Tenaadam), Linum usitatissimum ( Telba/linseed), Eucalyptus globulus ( Nechi Bahrzaf), and Moringa stenopetala (shiferaw) |
| Â | Ahmed et al. [20], 2020 | Oromia | Pregnant women, urban, hospital-based, cross-sectional | 1117 | 98.6 | >18 | Â | 301 | Previous use experience, religion, and distance to a health facility | Linum usitatissimum ( Telba/linseed) and Zingiber officinale ( Zingbil/Ginger) |
| Â | Ahmed et al. [21], 2021 | Oromia | Pregnant women, urban, hospital-based, cross-sectional | 1117 | 98.6 | >18 | Â | 319 | Lack of access to modern health facilities | Linum usitatissimum (flaxseed), Ocimum. lamiifolium (damakesie) and Carica papaya (papaya) |
| Â | Asrat et al. [22], 2020 | Amhara | Parents who have children <18 years, TM use in children; community-based, cross-sectional | 858 | 100 | >18 | 693 | 393 | Ease of accessibility | - |
|  | Ayele et al. [23], 2017 | Amhara | Elderly patients with chronic illnesses, institution-based cross-sectional | 369 | 87.8 | ≥65 | 240 | 121 | Dissatisfaction with conventional therapy | Zingiber officinale (Ginger) and Allium sativum (Garlic) |
| Â | Bantie et al. [24], 2019 | Amhara | Mothers with children < 5 years with pneumonia, hospital-based, cross-sectional | 173 | 89.4 | >16 | Â | 114 | Residence of mothers (access) | - |
| Â | Bayisa et al. [25], 2014 | Oromia | Pregnant women, hospital-based, cross-sectional | 250 | 100 | >18 | Â | 250 | Ease of access | Zingiber officinale (Ginger) and Allium sativum L. (Garlic) |
| Â | Emiru et al. [26], 2021 | Amhara | Pregnant women, institution-based cross-sectional | 282 | 100 | >18 | 252 | 146 | Accessibility and availability | Zingiber officinale (Ginger), Allium sativum (Garlic), and Ocimum lamiifolium (demakese) |
|  | Erku and Mekuria [27], 2016 | Amhara | Hypertensive patients, urban, hospital-based | 423 | 97.39 | 57.32 ± 10.57 | 279 | 189 | Dissatisfaction with conventional medicine | - |
| Â | Erku [28], 2016 | Amhara | Cancer patients, urban, hospital-based | 231 | 84.4 | >18 | 154 | 140 | belief in the advantages of CAM | - |
|  | Feyissa et al. [29], 2022 | Benishangul Gumuz | HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis co-infected patients, health facility-based, cross-sectional | 412 | 100 | 37.1 ±10.4 |  | 217 | Improving general wellbeing, the perception that herbal medicines are natural and safe and improving appetite | Allium sativum (Garlic) and Zingiber officinale (Ginger) |
| Â | Gedif and Hahn [30], 2002 | Addis Ababa | Urban, households | 600 | 100 | >18 | Â | 222 | Dissatisfaction with the services of modern health institutions due to their time-consuming nature and modern medicine was too expensive | Zingiber oficinale (Zingible), Tavarnera abyssinica (dingetegna), Lipidium sativum (feto), Ocium lamifolium (damakesse), and Ruta chalpensis (tena adam) |
| Â | Gedif and Hahn [31], 2003 | SNNPR | Rural, households | 600 | 100 | >18 | Â | 75 | Perceived efficacy, economic and geographic accessibility | Taverniera abyssinica, Ocimum lamiifolium, Allium sativum, Ruta chalepensis, Linum usitatissimum, Hagenia abyssinica, Zingiber officinale Rosc., and Lepidum sativum |
| Â | Gurmu et al. [32], 2017 | Amhara | HIV/AIDS patients, urban, hospital-based, cross-sectional | 300 | 100 | >18 | 131 | 48 | Religious practice and the belief and desire to improve immunity | Nigella sativa (Black cumin), Moringa oleifera (Morniga), Allium sativum (Garlic), and Zingiber officinale (Ginger) |
|  | Haile et al. [33], 2017 | Amhara | HIV/AIDS patients, urban, hospital-based, cross-sectional | 396 | 90.9 | 32.5 ± 8.6 |  | 255 | Dissatisfaction with conventional therapy and belief in the advantages of herbal medicines | Zingiber officinale (Ginger), Allium sativum L. (Garlic), and Moringa stenopetala (shiferaw) |
|  | Shiferaw et al. [34], 2020 | Addis Ababa | HIV/AIDS patients, urban, hospital-based, cross-sectional | 318 | 100 | 43.8 ±11.4 |  | 83 | To treat opportunistic infections, to reduce the antiretroviral drugs side effects and improve the wellbeing | Allium sativum (garlic), Ocimum lumiifolium ( Damakase), and Linum usitatissimum (flaxseed) |
|  | Tizazu et al. [35], 2020 | Amhara | Community-based, cross-sectional, TM use for children | 374 | 93.90 | 38 ± 9.80 | 317 | 175 | Accessibility | - |
| Â | Tesfaye et al. [36], 2022 | Southwest Ethiopia | Pregnant women, community-based, cross-sectional | 680 | 98 | >15 | 247 | 158 | Its accessibility and affordability (low/no cost) | - |
|  | Nigussie et al. [37], 2022 | Harari | Community-based, cross-sectional | 818 | 98.2 | 41.05 ± 15.36 | 563 | 563 | Closeness to the service and affordability | Ocimum lamiifolium ( Damakase), Zingiber officinale ( Zingibil), Aloe megalacantha ( Eret), and Lepidium sativum ( Feto) |
|  | Nega et al. [38], 2018 | Addis Ababa and Bati, | Pregnant women, health center-based, cross-sectional | 624 | 96 | 18–40 |  | 360 | To promote health and wellbeing | Ocimum lamiifolium, Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum, Nigella sativa, and Ruta chalepensis |
|  | Mekuria et al. [39], 2017 | Amhara | Pregnant women, urban, hospital-based, cross-sectional | 410 | 88.8 | 26 ±5.0 |  | 177 | Cheap, accessible, and safe | Zingiber officinale, Trigonella foenum-graecum L ( Absh (fenugreek)), Ocimum lamiifolium ( damakasse), Allium sativum, and Linum usitatissimum ( telba (Flax seeds)) |
|  | Mekuria et al. [40], 2018 | Amhara | Type 2 diabetic patients, urban, hospital-based, cross-sectional | 408 | 94.8 | 52.5 ± 12.6 |  | 240 | Dissatisfaction with the modern therapy and beliefs in the merits of herbal medicines | Allium sativum L., Caylusea abyssinica (Fresen.) (Giesilla), Otostegia integrifolia Benth ( Tinjute), and Hagenia abyssinica ( Kosso) |
| Â | Jambo et al. [41], 2018 | Harari | Pregnant woman, hospital-based, cross-sectional | 247 | 98.8 | Median age 25 | Â | 142 | Fewer side effects and its effectiveness | Zingiber officinale Ruta chalepensis Allium sativum Ocimum lamiifolium Thymus vulgaris ( Tosign) |
| Â | Kebede et al. [42], 2009 | Addis Ababa | Pregnant woman, urban | 1268 | 87.9 | Mean age 26 | Â | 28 | - | Allium sativum, Ocimum lamiifolium, Lepidium sativum, Cucurbita pepo, Linum usitatissimum, Echinops kebericho, Glinus lotoides, Ruta chalepensis, and Zingeber officinale |
|  | Kifle et al., [43] 2021 | Amhara | Hypertensive patients, hospital-based, cross-sectional | 475 | 94.7 | 46.54 ± 12.6 | 275 | 167 | Dissatisfaction with modern medicine, belief in the advantages of CAM, and availability | Moringa stenoptela (Shiferaw) Ocimum lamiifolium (Damakase) Calpurnea aurea (Digita) Rumex nepalensis (Tullet) Menthax piperata (Nana) |
|  | Kifle et al. [44], 2021 | Amhara | Diabetic patients, institution-based, cross-sectional | 419 | 94.3 | 48.7 ± 12.6 |  | 231 | Dissatisfaction with allopathic medicine, traditional, or cultural acceptability, family, and belief in TM | Moringa stenoptela (Shiferaw) Nigella sativa (Tikur Azmud) Zingiber officinale (Zingibil) Allium sativum (Nech Shinkurt) Aloe vera (Eret) |
| Â | Kovalev and Wells [45], 2020 | Oromia | Malaria suspected cases, community-based, cross-sectional | 366 | 100 | >15 | 145 | 116 | Modern healthcare facilities are too far, unaffordable, have side effects and also there is no better expectation; TM use saves time | Allium sativum, Zingiber officinale, Ajuga intergrifolia (Harmaguse), Allium cepa (Onion), Lepidium sativum (Feto), and Ocimum lamiifolium |
|  | Laelago et al. [46], 2016 | SNNPR | Pregnant women, urban, health facility-based, cross-sectional | 363 | 97 | 25.4 ±4.1 |  | 258 | Safe, cheap, accessible, and effective | Allium sativum, Zingiber officinale, Ruta graveolens, and Ocimum lamiifolium |
| Â | Hailu et al. [47], 2020 | Oromia | Parents who have children < 18 years, community-based, cross-sectional | 267 | 100 | >20 | 182 | 73 | Effectiveness and satisfaction with TM; dissatisfaction, inaccessibility, and cost of modern medicine | - |
|  | Aragaw et al. [48], 2020 | Amhar | Community-based, cross-sectional | 404 | 99.5 | 35.73 ± 0.59 | 145 | 144 | Accessibility and affordability | - |
| Â | Belachew et al. [49], 2017 | Oromia | Community-based, cross-sectional | 302 | 100 | Mean age 46 | 224 | 213 | Affordability and accessibility | - |
| Â | Bussa and Gemeda [50], 2018 | Harari | Community-based, urban, cross-sectional | 423 | 100 | >18 | 256 | 119 | Availability and accessibility | Allium sativum and Ocimum lamiifolium |
| Â | Chali et al. [51], 2021 | Oromia | Community-based, cross-sectional | 271 | 100 | >18 | 221 | 145 | Affordability and religious affiliation | - |
| Â | Gari et al. [52], 2015 | Oromia | Community-based, cross-sectional, urban setting | 282 | 100 | Mean age 30 | 265 | 154 | It is cheap | - |
| Â | Misha et al. [53], 2014 | Oromia | Community-based, cross-sectional | 151 | 100 | >15 | Â | 120 | Affordability, accessibility, and acceptability | - |