Exploring and determining traditional medicines used for bleeding control and termination of pregnancy among Suri people, South West Ethiopia, 2022: mixed method exploratory sequential study design

The treatment of severe bleeding, stopping pregnancies, and other gynecologic conditions have all been addressed by women using traditional medicines and methods. Even though research has been done to explore these concerns more, evidence is limited in developing countries, particularly in Ethiopia Hence, this study sought to investigate the traditional treatments and remedies employed by women in pastoralist communities living in southwestern Ethiopia.

To explore and determine traditional medicines used for bleeding control and termination of pregnancy among Suri People, South West Ethiopia, 2022.

A mixed-method exploratory sequential study design was conducted at selected kebeles of Suri District, South West, Ethiopia, from February 1 to August 30, 2022. Convenience and purposive sampling techniques were implemented for quantitative and qualitative studies, respectively. SPSS version 26 and Atlas.ti version 22 software were used for data analysis for the quantitative and qualitative parts, respectively.

60 People participated in the qualitative study and 350 women participated in the quantitative study, making a 100% response rate. Qualitatively Blood tree, Shawly tree, and Sitch lady were utilized for bleeding control, and, the root of banana, the root of maize, Quartum, Teteracycle with alcohol, boiled alcohol, soot grass leave olive and salty soil were used for pregnancy termination. Quantitatively the proportion of women who used traditional medicines for abortion, and bleeding control were 38%, and 36% respectively. Blood tree (28%),Shawly tree(38%), and Sitch lady(34%) were the most commonly reported traditional medicines or methods used for bleeding control. Similarly, the root of banana (15%), the root of maize (19%), Teteracycle with alcohol (14%), Quartum (17%), boiled alcohol (15%), and soot grass (20%).

Suri women use various plants, alcohol, and drugs to interrupt pregnancy as well as blood and shawily trees to manage bleeding during (heavy menstrual, abortion, and postpartum periods). To help people use safe methods and avoid those that have a negative impact on mothers, it is imperative to investigate more about the value of these traditional methods. Further botanical study is recommended to scientifically evaluate the traditional medicine obtained from different plants.