Integrating traditional medicine into the Ghanaian health system: perceptions and experiences of traditional medicine practitioners in the Ashanti region.
Ashanti region, Ghana
health system, indigenous medicine
integrated healthcare
traditional medicine practitioners
Journal
International health
ISSN: 1876-3405
Titre abrégé: Int Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101517095
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
04 07 2023
04 07 2023
Historique:
received:
03
05
2022
accepted:
15
08
2022
revised:
04
08
2022
medline:
6
7
2023
pubmed:
6
9
2022
entrez:
5
9
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Traditional medicine (TM) plays a vital role in the Ghanaian health system by serving as an alternative healthcare delivery system for the majority of people. However, the quality of practice and level of TM practitioners' involvement in the integration of TM into the health system have not been fully investigated. This study employed a phenomenological qualitative study design to explore the perceptions, experiences and recommendations of TM practitioners in the Ashanti region regarding TM integration. Data were collected through individual interviews with 17 participants. Participants had knowledge about TM integration. They cited effective alternative healthcare delivery and improved patient outcomes as the key benefits of TM integration. However, they reported a shortage of approved TM products, poor visibility of TM integration and poor relational coordination of care as factors hampering the integration. Participants recommended improved interprofessional relationships, provision of financial support and improved publicity of TM as possible strategies to enhance TM integration in Ghana. The findings of the study clearly demonstrate that the Ghanaian health system is currently operating a consumer-led, tolerant health system with a parallel (between orthodox and TM practitioners) healthcare delivery model. Successful implementation of an effective TM integration would require improved integrative collaborative coordination of care between orthodox and TM practitioners in Ghana.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Traditional medicine (TM) plays a vital role in the Ghanaian health system by serving as an alternative healthcare delivery system for the majority of people. However, the quality of practice and level of TM practitioners' involvement in the integration of TM into the health system have not been fully investigated.
METHODS
This study employed a phenomenological qualitative study design to explore the perceptions, experiences and recommendations of TM practitioners in the Ashanti region regarding TM integration. Data were collected through individual interviews with 17 participants.
RESULTS
Participants had knowledge about TM integration. They cited effective alternative healthcare delivery and improved patient outcomes as the key benefits of TM integration. However, they reported a shortage of approved TM products, poor visibility of TM integration and poor relational coordination of care as factors hampering the integration. Participants recommended improved interprofessional relationships, provision of financial support and improved publicity of TM as possible strategies to enhance TM integration in Ghana.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the study clearly demonstrate that the Ghanaian health system is currently operating a consumer-led, tolerant health system with a parallel (between orthodox and TM practitioners) healthcare delivery model. Successful implementation of an effective TM integration would require improved integrative collaborative coordination of care between orthodox and TM practitioners in Ghana.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36063112
pii: 6692348
doi: 10.1093/inthealth/ihac059
pmc: PMC10318977
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
414-427Informations de copyright
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
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