Dataset used in the analysis.

Background
Evidence suggests use of herbal and conventional medicines in the treatment of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). We examined factors associated with caregivers’ use of combined herbal and conventional medicine to treat children with SCD.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital between January and March 2022. Caregivers of children with SCD aged 1 to 18 years attending the Sickle Cell Clinic were interviewed using structured questionnaires. We collected data on caregivers’ socio-demographic characteristics, perceptions of and intentions to use either or both therapies, self-reported use of either or both therapies and community and health-related factors. A multivariable logistic regression model was computed to assess the factors independently associated with caregivers’ use of combined therapy, using Stata version 15.0.
Results
372 caregivers were interviewed. On average, respondents were aged 34.3 years (Standard Deviation [SD]: ±9.8 years). 37% (n = 138) of the caregivers reported the use of both herbal and conventional medicine, 58.3% (n = 217) reported use of only conventional medicine, while 4.6% (n = 17) reported use of herbal medicine only. Higher odds of using combination therapy were found in caregivers aged 60+ years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 11.8; 95% CI: 1.2, 115.2), those with lower secondary education (AOR = 6.2; 95% CI: 1.5, 26.0), those who believed in the safety of herbal medicine (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.5, 7.6) and those who thought that use of both therapies were safe (AOR = 7.7; 95% CI: 3.5, 17.0).
Conclusion
More than one-third of the caregivers reported use of combined herbal and conventional medicine, most of whom were older (>60%) and had lower secondary education. There is need for targeted health promotion to educate caregivers about the dangers of using both herbal and conventional medicines in treating children with SCD.

背景
现有证据表明，草药疗法与常规药物均可用于镰状细胞病（Sickle Cell Disease）的治疗。本研究旨在探讨与镰状细胞病（SCD）患儿照护者联合使用草药疗法及常规药物治疗相关的影响因素。
方法
本研究于2022年1月至3月在金贾区域转诊医院开展横断面研究。选取前往镰状细胞病门诊就诊的1~18岁SCD患儿照护者作为研究对象，采用结构化问卷进行访谈。收集的资料包括照护者的社会人口学特征、对单一或联合疗法的认知与使用意愿、自我报告的单一或联合疗法使用情况，以及社区与健康相关因素。采用Stata 15.0统计软件构建多因素logistic回归模型，分析与照护者联合使用两种疗法独立相关的影响因素。
结果
本研究共访谈372名照护者。受访者平均年龄为34.3岁（标准差[Standard Deviation]：±9.8岁）。其中37%（n=138）的照护者报告联合使用草药疗法与常规药物，58.3%（n=217）仅使用常规药物治疗，4.6%（n=17）仅使用草药疗法。多因素分析显示，60岁及以上照护者（校正后比值比[adjusted odds ratio, AOR]=11.8；95%置信区间[95% CI]：1.2, 115.2）、具有初中及以下学历者（AOR=6.2；95%CI：1.5, 26.0）、认为草药疗法安全者（AOR=3.3；95%CI：1.5, 7.6）以及认为两种疗法联合使用安全者（AOR=7.7；95%CI：3.5, 17.0）联合使用两种疗法的比值显著更高。
结论
超过三分之一的照护者报告联合使用草药疗法与常规药物治疗SCD患儿，其中多数为60岁以上人群且学历为初中及以下。亟需开展针对性健康宣教，向照护者科普联合使用草药与常规药物治疗SCD患儿的潜在风险。