Journal Article

Patterns of herbal medicine utilization for hypertension during the Sudanese crisis of 2025

Mohammed, Maal Osman Omer, Mahmoud, Sarah Abdullah Sayed, Hamza, Khalid Mukhtar Awad, Hassan, Abdelfatah Abdelelah Elzain, Hassan, Fatima Awad Othman, Sidahmed, Thoraya Salah Murtada, Ali, Abdelrahman Edris Osman, Mohammed, Kamal A A, Abedalla, Manar Mohammedsalih Hussein, Ahmed, Mohamed Ashraf Osman, Abdalla, Osman Abdelgdir Almosaml, El-Haj, Al-Romaysa M Osman Khalafalla, Almosilhy, Nereen A, Abdallah, Waad Saifeldein Alamin, Ibrahim, Watfaa Siddeg Mohamed

2026

Overview

Sudan's healthcare system has been severely disrupted by the ongoing humanitarian crisis, limiting access to essential services and medications. Understanding health-seeking behaviors during such disruptions is critical to informing culturally appropriate public health responses, particularly regarding traditional medicine use. This study aimed to assessPatterns of Herbal Medicine Utilization for Hypertension During the Sudanese Crisis of 2025. This cross-sectional study was conducted from February to June 2025 among adults with physician-diagnosed hypertension who were prescribed antihypertensive medication at diagnosis. Data were collected using a structured validated questionnaire administered face-to-face using Kobo Toolbox. Convenience sampling yielded 749 valid responses. Data were analyzed using SPSS v27, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The mean age was(56.8 ± 11.9) years; (54.1%) were female, (29.8%) were displaced and (50.5%) reported difficulty accessing antihypertensive medications. Herbal medicine use was reported by (91.2%); 65.2% used herbs before and during the crisis, and (19.8%) initiated use after the crisis began. Concurrent use of herb-drug use was reported by (71.7%), while adverse effects were uncommon(5.7%), and mostly mild. Lower income and rural residence were significantly associated with herbal use (p < 0.05). Herbal medicine use was wide spread among hypertensive Sudanese adults during the crisis, largely driven by affordability, accessibility challenges, and cultural familiarity. Given the high rate of concurrent use, public health messaging and clinician training on herb-drug safety should be prioritized.