The Pattern of Poisoning From Traditional Medicines in Urban Zimbabwe

A 10-year (1980-89) retrospective study was carried out at Zimbabwe’s six main urban hospitals to evaluate the epidemiology of poisoning caused by traditional medicines. A total of 1,456 cases were recorded. 8% of all cases were accidental poisonings while 0.2% were suicides & 2% were parasuicides. The authors state that the use of traditional medicine needs to be standardised & rationalised to reduce the incidence of poisoning & the morbidity rates. (10 refs.)