Published in PLOS One on 2026-07-30, this study is presented as an attributed evidence briefing. The excerpts below are the original researchers’ words, reproduced under their Creative Commons Attribution licence. HealthSignal has selected the abstract and, where needed, opening background paragraphs; the complete methods, results, limitations and references remain in the linked paper.
Original authors: Mohammed Kebede, Gudeta Kusheta, Mehammedamin Jemal, Kedir Abdurehman, Netsanet Melkamu, Yakob Tadese
Source: PLOS One • DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0354889
Read the complete primary study ↗ · Creative Commons Attribution licence
From the researchers
Abstract
Globally, 85% of the population uses traditional medicine. Ethiopia is a country with various traditional medicinal practices. However, various studies also reported traditional medicine used in children by their parents has had adverse outcomes and hospitalized them with complications. Various studies had also reported that traditional medicine use was high during COVID-19. Despite the fact that, children are particularly vulnerable population, limited studies exists regarding the prevalence, types, and determinants of parental TM use during COVID-19. In addition the existing studies were also confined to quantitative methods. Therefore, this study uses a mixed study design to explore indigenous methods of traditional medicine knowledge acquisition, preservation, preparation, storage, and dosage of herbs; barriers of disclosure; and prevalence of concomitant use.
A community-based concurrent mixed study design was conducted among 941 randomly selected parents from Dec 01/2023 to March 01/2024. The data was cleaned, coded, and entered in Epi-Data version 4.6 and transferred to Stata version 14.1 for analysis. Finally, an AOR with a 95% CI was computed, and variables with a p-value < 0.05 in the multivariable analysis were taken as significant factors. The qualitative data was collected from 16 selected key informants by in-depth face-to-face interviews and analyzed by using thematic analysis.
The prevalence of parental TM use for children was 87.6%. Sibling relation to child (AOR: 0.45, 95% CI, 0.01–0.77), religion (AOR: 0.11, 95% CI, 0.04–0.29), parental TM use for themselves (AOR: 6.55, 95% CI, 1.67–25.69), easy accessibility (AOR: 2.72, 95% CI, 1.16–6.40), safety & efficacy (AOR: 4.53, 95% CI, 2.3–13.61), and TM skill in the family (AOR: 0.47, 95% CI, 0.19–0.84) were determinants of TM utilization. Lack of awareness, misperception of TM, lack of trust in HCP and negative judgment from HCP were the main-barriers for non-disclosure of TM use.
This result indicated traditional medicine use was high; nearly 9 out of 10 parents had used TM for their children during COVID-19. There was high concomitant utilization (90.6%) and high non-disclosure rate (98.1%) of traditional medicine use to health workers. Hence, it is better to give priority to strengthening the implementation of TM policy and manage accordingly.
Introduction
Traditional medicine (TM), also called indigenous, folk, or local medicine, is defined as a diverse set of health practices indigenous to different cultures used in the maintenance of health, as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement, or treatment of physical and mental illnesses [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates four billion (80–85%) of the world’s population relies on TM either alone or in combination with conventional medicine [2]. The utilization ranges from 70–95% in developing countries specifically in Asia and Africa, whereas China, accounts around 40% of all health care delivery system [3]. Similarly, 80% of the Ethiopian population and up to 90.3% of parents depend on TM for their primary health care needs [4–6].
Reading this evidence
Use the full paper to check the study design, participant selection, comparator and outcome definitions before drawing a practical conclusion. An association does not by itself show cause and effect. A reported performance measure needs its denominator and uncertainty. A finding from a particular facility, sample or time period should retain that scope when it is discussed elsewhere.
This briefing makes the source accessible within the wider hospital systems desk. It does not assess an individual patient or certify a product. When considering relevance to another health system, examine the original authors’ account of context and limitations, then seek local implementation evidence. The related reporting below provides other studies to read alongside this one; it is a topic connection, rather than a claim that their results are directly comparable.
© 2026 Mohammed Kebede, Gudeta Kusheta, Mehammedamin Jemal, Kedir Abdurehman, Netsanet Melkamu, Yakob Tadese. Excerpts reproduced under CC BY. Selection, formatting and contextual notes by HealthSignal. The researchers are the authors of the source study, not members of HealthSignal’s staff.
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