Mental illness linked to ‘mumbwa’
Aug 08, 2011
WHEN Maureen Ndagano got pregnant with her first child four months ago, her mother-in-law prescribed a traditional drug commonly known as mumbwa (moulded clay mixed with herbs).
By Chris Kiwawulo
WHEN Maureen Ndagano got pregnant with her first child four months ago, her mother-in-law prescribed a traditional drug commonly known as mumbwa (moulded clay mixed with herbs).
The resident of Bwotera in Rakai district says her in-law who is a traditional birth attendant in Rakai argued that the drug was to “help her have a less painful and quick childbirthâ€.
But when Ndagano went to Kalisizo Hospital for check-up, she was advised not to use the drug as she risked causing her child mental problems or worse, lose the baby.
Like Ndagano, many women especially in rural areas use mumbwa to induce labour. They crush it on a broken pot, add a little water, stir and drink the concoction regularly. Mumbwa is usually prescribed by traditional birth attendants.
However, using it mumbwa to induce labour is dangerous to children because it causes rapid uterine contractions during labour, thereby interrupting blood supply into the uterus, says Rakai district health officer, Dr. Robert Mayanja. “When blood is not flowing into the uterus, the baby is deprived of oxygen. In the end, the baby might get mental complications after birth, such as learning disabilities.â€
Mayanja reveals that one out of every 10 to 15 normal pregnant mothers can get complications during delivery, hence the need for mothers to deliver in the hands of qualified personnel, and at health centres with equipment and supplies that can handle emergency obstetric care.
Mayanja made the revelation while presenting the Rakai district health report for July 2010 to July 2011 during a meeting organised by the Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) at Serona Hotel in Kyotera, Rakai, recently.
Mayanja says most infant deaths occur in the first month after birth, especially in the first 48 hours after delivery and are commonly a result of birth asphyxia (tiredness) and neonatal infections. He says the deaths are likely to increase when a mother uses mumbwa, just like when an expectant mother is exposed to drugs like alcohol.
Other causes of mental illness among unborn children include genetic factors, maternal exposure to serious psychological stress or trauma and famine.
Externally, experts attribute children’s mental health to factors such as hunger, homelessness, unnatural death and murder of their family members, lack of medical care and torture.
Mental health is how we think, feel and act as we cope with life. It also helps to determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices.
According to data from the Uganda Society for Disabled Children (USDC), most childhood mental disabilities in Uganda are a result of preventable causes, especially immunisable diseases and the poor treatment of common illnesses.
Statistics collected by USDC within the programme districts over the years suggest that the number of disabled children in a district is about 4.5% of the total population.
Based on this, it is estimated that there are over one million mentally disabled children in the country with the commonest disabilities being epilepsy, mental retardation and cerebral palsy.
The World Health Organisation estimates that the rate of disability prevalence could double this figure and perhaps to as high as 10% in the next few years should there be no action taken.
RHU project coordinator Annet Kyarimpa says such problems can be solved when women are encouraged to visit health facilities during pregnancy and use family planning, and educating the girl-child.
But there is hope that the issue will soon be addressed as the Uganda National Health Policy and Draft Mental Health Policy (2000–2005) is committed to prioritising mental disorders because they are a major contributor to the country’s disease burden.
WHEN Maureen Ndagano got pregnant with her first child four months ago, her mother-in-law prescribed a traditional drug commonly known as mumbwa (moulded clay mixed with herbs).
The resident of Bwotera in Rakai district says her in-law who is a traditional birth attendant in Rakai argued that the drug was to “help her have a less painful and quick childbirthâ€.
But when Ndagano went to Kalisizo Hospital for check-up, she was advised not to use the drug as she risked causing her child mental problems or worse, lose the baby.
Like Ndagano, many women especially in rural areas use mumbwa to induce labour. They crush it on a broken pot, add a little water, stir and drink the concoction regularly. Mumbwa is usually prescribed by traditional birth attendants.
However, using it mumbwa to induce labour is dangerous to children because it causes rapid uterine contractions during labour, thereby interrupting blood supply into the uterus, says Rakai district health officer, Dr. Robert Mayanja. “When blood is not flowing into the uterus, the baby is deprived of oxygen. In the end, the baby might get mental complications after birth, such as learning disabilities.â€
Mayanja reveals that one out of every 10 to 15 normal pregnant mothers can get complications during delivery, hence the need for mothers to deliver in the hands of qualified personnel, and at health centres with equipment and supplies that can handle emergency obstetric care.
Mayanja made the revelation while presenting the Rakai district health report for July 2010 to July 2011 during a meeting organised by the Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) at Serona Hotel in Kyotera, Rakai, recently.
Mayanja says most infant deaths occur in the first month after birth, especially in the first 48 hours after delivery and are commonly a result of birth asphyxia (tiredness) and neonatal infections. He says the deaths are likely to increase when a mother uses mumbwa, just like when an expectant mother is exposed to drugs like alcohol.
Other causes of mental illness among unborn children include genetic factors, maternal exposure to serious psychological stress or trauma and famine.
Externally, experts attribute children’s mental health to factors such as hunger, homelessness, unnatural death and murder of their family members, lack of medical care and torture.
Mental health is how we think, feel and act as we cope with life. It also helps to determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices.
According to data from the Uganda Society for Disabled Children (USDC), most childhood mental disabilities in Uganda are a result of preventable causes, especially immunisable diseases and the poor treatment of common illnesses.
Statistics collected by USDC within the programme districts over the years suggest that the number of disabled children in a district is about 4.5% of the total population.
Based on this, it is estimated that there are over one million mentally disabled children in the country with the commonest disabilities being epilepsy, mental retardation and cerebral palsy.
The World Health Organisation estimates that the rate of disability prevalence could double this figure and perhaps to as high as 10% in the next few years should there be no action taken.
RHU project coordinator Annet Kyarimpa says such problems can be solved when women are encouraged to visit health facilities during pregnancy and use family planning, and educating the girl-child.
But there is hope that the issue will soon be addressed as the Uganda National Health Policy and Draft Mental Health Policy (2000–2005) is committed to prioritising mental disorders because they are a major contributor to the country’s disease burden.