The problem of treating anaemia in children: Medicinal plants versus blood transfusion

Introduction: This study looked at the problem of treating anaemia using both medicinal plants and blood transfusions. The aim was to identify the problems associated with treating children's anaemia using blood transfusions or medicinal plants, to show why parents choose to treat their children's anaemia, to identify the reasons for using medicinal plants to treat children's anaemia and to list the medicinal plants used to treat anaemia. Methodology: To achieve these objectives, we used a cross-sectional descriptive approach based on direct structured interviews with mothers hospitalized with their children in the paediatrics department of the GRH/Makiso and at the Centre Traditional-modern Jesus Heals, during the three-month period from 1 June to 31 August 2023. As a result, 40 study subjects were selected, 20 from each investigation site. Results: The following results were obtained in relation to problems associated with the treatment of anaemia in children: 30.0% of the subjects in the study who had had a relapse to traditional anaemia treatment at the CTM Jesus Heals and problems related to the treatment of anaemia by transfusion and traditional treatment, 50.0% of the subjects in the study mentioned the reason why traditional treatment corrects anaemia, i.e. 25.0% at the CTM Jesus Heals and blood transfusion improves the child's state of health, i.e. 25.0% at the HGR/Makiso. At the CTM Jesus Heals, anaemia was treated with medicinal plants, in particular sweet potato leaves (20.0%), papaya leaves (12.5%), avocado leaves (10.0%) and Bokomu leaves (7.5%). Conclusion: Anaemia is a public health problem in Kisangani, causing a high morbidity rate among children. It is therefore important to provide effective medical treatment with a view to reducing the number of deaths due to anaemia.