Prevalence of Seeking Traditional Healers in the Treatment of Hemorrhoids and Its Complications among Patients with Hemorrhoidal Visiting the Surgical Outpatient Clinic at a Somali Sudanese Sepcialized Hospital in Mogadisho, Somali

Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, are dilated veins in the anal canal and lower colon. The symptoms are primarily caused by increased pressure in these veins due to straining during defecation or any activity that causes strain. As the pressure rises, blood flow in the anal veins increases, leading to swelling and dilation. The most common effects of hemorrhoids include perianal swelling, thrombosed or prolapsed hemorrhoids, bleeding, and anal itching. Introduction: 1) To identy the prevalance of seeking traditional healers and its complications among hemorrhoid pateints visiting at Department of Surgery of Somali Sudanase Hospital, Mogadishu Somalia. 2) To determine sociodemographic factors of seeking traditional healers among hemorrhoid pateints visiting at Department of Surgery of Somali Sudanase Hospital, Mogadishu Somalia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study at Somali Sudanese Hospital, Mogadishu, involved 206 systematically sampled participants. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using STATA 14, with statistical significance set at p ＜ 0.05. Results: ？ Prevalence: Older age groups (60＋) were more likely to seek traditional healers. ？ Complications: Patients treated by traditional healers had significantly higher rates of bleeding (26.7% vs. 4.5%), pain (53.3% vs. 2.7%), infection (25.6% vs. 4.5%), and edema (33.3% vs. 4.5%). ？ Traditional methods involved unique treatments such as injections (64.4% vs. 4.5%) and oral liquids (20% vs. 3.6%). Conclusion: Seeking traditional healers for hemorrhoid treatment is common in the Somali community. However, these treatments often involve procedures performed without proper knowledge or awareness of the potential risks. Raising awareness and promoting education on safer medical practices is essential to prevent iatrogenic complications, such as bleeding, fistulas, and perianal abscesses.