Data on Indigenous traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by herbalists in treating opportunistic infections among people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda
In Uganda, herbalists widely used medicinal plants for treating people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). Different species are mainly used to treat the opportunistic infections that characterise the disease. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in eight districts of Arua, Dokolo, Mbale, Bushenyi, Iganga, Rakai, Luwero and Kaabong in different parts of Uganda. The data has been disaggregated by district in each column. Each column captures the biodata and number of herbalists interviewed by district. Then a summary of the responses to the key questions asked pertaining to the use of medicinal plants, the signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS and the indigenous traditional knowledge and associated practices of the herbalists. Data from the individual districts is then synthesised to get a representative picture for the whole country. The data generally show that the herbalists treat HIV/AIDS by symptoms patients present with. An analysis of all the opportunistic infections and their frequency of citation by the herbalists is given. The herbalists are knowledgeable on a wide range of opportunistic infections in HIV/AIDS. The herbalists also generally counsel their patients and encourage them to simultaneous their antiretroviral drugs with herbal treatments. The data also show what the herbalists believe to be the cause of AIDS, in addition to the challenges they face in their practice
