Traditional treatments for jaundice in older people in Mbandaka (DRC): an inventory of plants, clinical risks and associated factors

Abstract

Introduction: In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, traditional treatments for jaundice are widely used, but their risks in older people remain poorly documented. This study aimed to catalogue the plants used to treat jaundice ( ) in Mbandaka, to assess associated complications and to identify predictors of serious adverse effects.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to October 2026 among 230 people aged 60 years and over who had presented with jaundice treated with herbal medicine in the preceding twelve months. A face-to-face questionnaire collected sociodemographic, clinical and ethnopharmacological data. Logistic regression analyses identified factors associated with serious complications (hospitalisation).

Results: Seven main plants were identified, dominated by Vernonia amygdalina (37.8%) and Aloe vera (23.5%). The frequency of adverse effects reached 64.8%, and 20.9% of participants required hospitalisation. In multivariate analysis, age ≥80 years (OR = 3.87), lack of education (OR = 2.56), income <50 USD/month (OR = 2.34), belief in a witchcraft-related cause (OR = 1.98), lack of information on risks (OR = 2.87) and the use of Cinchona spp. (OR = 2.51) were independently associated with hospitalisations.

Conclusion: Herbal treatment for jaundice among older people in Mbandaka carries significant risks, particularly among the very elderly, those with no formal education and the disadvantaged. Therapeutic education initiatives targeting these vulnerable populations are urgently needed.

Keywords: Jaundice, older adults, traditional medicine, herbal medicine, Mbandaka, DRC, risks, associated factors.

Received Date: February 22, 2026

Accepted Date: March 14, 2026

Published Date: April 02, 2026

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/696