Parental Traditional Medicine Use for Children and Associated Factors in Harar City, Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia: A Community Based Cross -Sectional Study

Ayichew Alemu Shiferaw^*Fentahun MeseretMulualem RobiFenta WondimnehHenok LegesseYalew MossieTilahun TeshagerEyerusalem TamiruDiribsa Tizazu HailuTesfaye Asfaw

• Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia

Globally there is consensus that traditional medicine has its benefit in solving health-related problems but there is a challenge which is the inadequacy of scientific standards for deciding the appropriate utilization. Evidence suggested that it worsened the problems and resulted complications. Many studies have been conducted on adult traditional medicine utilization but there have been limited studies conducted on parental traditional medicine use for children in Harar City. Hence, the objective of this research is to find out the proportion and associated factors of parental traditional medicine use for children in Harar City, Eastern Ethiopia. Research methods: A cross-sectional research was carried out in the community of Harar City from October 15, 2024, to November 15, 2024. The sampling procedure used to get the 348 parents was a multistage sampling procedure. The required data were assembled through in person interviews. The data that assembled were analyzed by using Stata version 16.0 statistical software. To find out the associated factors with the outcome variable, multi variable logistic regression was applied via adjusted odd ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Independent variables that have (p <0.05) were declared as significantly associated variables with the outcome variable. Results : About 348 parents were sampled for the study and there was 100% response rate. The proportion of parental TM use for children was 76.15% (95% CI: 71.8-80.5%). Parents who have number of children above four [aOR=3.24, 95% CI:(1.13, 9.28)], good attitude by parents for TM (aOR=1.98, 95% CI: (1.02, 3.86)) and parents who were member of community-based health insurance (aOR= 0.34, 95% CI: (0.19, 0.63)) were independent variables associated with parental traditional medicine use for children. Conclusion: About three fourth of parents applied traditional medicine to children. Parental traditional medicine use for children was influenced by modifiable factors. Hence, the stake holders in the health sector would provide specific attention to influencing factors of parental traditional medicine use for children.