Effectiveness of Integrated Health Systems in Africa: A Systematic Review

Ampomah, Irene G; Malau‐Aduli, Bunmi S.; Malau‐Aduli, A.E.O.; Emeto, Theophilus I.

doi:10.3390/medicina56060271

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Participants, irrespective of professional background and location of affiliated institutions, were aware of the presence of integrated health facilities and the TM Department at KNUST. This finding confirms the result of a Ghanaian study [ 25 ] and a systematic review that assessed the effectiveness of integrated health systems in Africa [ 27 ]. The framework for integrating TM into national health systems clearly specifies that the availability and acquisition of health information is crucial to the building of an effective integrated system [ 6 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…TM was introduced into the orthodox health system through a series of health interventions to take advantage of the strengths of both systems. These interventions include the formulation of a TM policy in 2005, establishment of the TM council in 2010 to oversee the activities of TM practitioners, inauguration of TM into the tertiary educational system, and establishment of the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine in 1975 [ 5 , 24 , 27 ]. Since 2012, TM units have been created in 17 health facilities across the country [ 28 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Perceptions and Experiences of Orthodox Health Practitioners and Hospital Administrators towards Integrating Traditional Medicine into the Ghanaian Health System

Ampomah

Malau‐Aduli

Seidu

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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The government of Ghana has been piloting traditional medicine (TM) integration in 17 health facilities across the country. However, the nature of current practice of integrated healthcare has not been thoroughly explored. This paper sought to explore the experiences and recommendations of orthodox health practitioners and hospital administrators in the Ashanti region regarding the practice of integrated healthcare in Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative, phenomenological approach involving 22 interviews. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting study participants. Framework analysis was used to draw on the experiences of participants relating to TM integration. Participants were knowledgeable about the existence of integrated health facilities and stated that TM integration has created options in health services. However, participants deemed the integrated system ineffective and attributed the inefficiency to poor processing and certification of TM products, opposition of medical doctors to TM usage, absence of a protocol to guide the integration process, and inadequate publicity. Professional training of TM practitioners and inclusion of TM in medical school curriculum could improve collaboration between the health practitioners. Future research should focus on assessing the opinions and involvements of TM practitioners regarding the integration of traditional therapies into national health systems.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions and Experiences of Orthodox Health Practitioners and Hospital Administrators towards Integrating Traditional Medicine into the Ghanaian Health System

Ampomah

Malau‐Aduli

Seidu

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…In 2013, it was reported that approximately 70% of Ghanaians rely on TM for healthcare [21]. The integration of TM into the Ghanaian health system was triggered by the high prevalence of TM use among the populace [22]. In Ghana, TM is used to cure and manage ailments such as fevers, cuts, foot rots, stroke, cancer, and diabetes [10,21,23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The practice of integrated healthcare and the experiences of people in Ghana’s Ashanti region

Ampomah

Malau‐Aduli

Seidu

et al. 2022

BMC Health Serv Res

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Background The Ghanaian government has implemented interventions that integrate traditional medicine (TM) into its national health system in response to the high prevalence of TM use. However, empirical evidence of the experiences of service users and the practice of integrated health in Ghana is scanty. Therefore, this study explored the experiences of people with TM integration into the formal health system in Ashanti region using an adapted TM integration framework. Methods A sequential explanatory mixed methods study design comprising survey administration and in-depth interviews for data collection was utilised to address the research objective. Framework analysis was used in analysing the qualitative data and for triangulation of results. Results Participants were aware of licensing and training of TM practitioners in a science-based university in Ghana. However, knowledge of the existence of TM units in selected hospitals in the region was minimal. Integration knowledge was largely influenced by sex, marital status, household size and residential status, where males and urban dwellers were more familiar with the process than females and rural dwellers. Low patronage of integrated health services in the region was attributable to weak cross referrals. However, service users who had engaged with the integrated system recounted a satisfactory outcome. Conclusion Service users’ unfamiliarity with the presence of integrated facilities in Ghana could be an impediment to the practice of integrated healthcare. Sensitisation of the public about the practice of an integrated system could refine the Ghanaian integrated system. Regular evaluation of patient satisfaction and outcome measures might also serve as an effective strategy for improving health services delivery since evaluation is becoming an important component of health service design and implementation. There is the need for future studies to focus on exploring the perceptions and experiences of health practitioners and hospital administrators regarding the practice of integrated health in Ghana.

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“…Difficulties in bridging the gap between indigenous and Western scientific paradigms have been widely discussed in the literature [ 110 , 111 ]. However, some examples of collaborative initiatives concerning the human health care system demonstrate that the dichotomy between Western veterinary medicine and African healing methods can be overcome, allowing for the development of hybrid knowledge that evolves and is continually redefined [ 111 , 112 ]. Ref.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preserving Ethnoveterinary Medicine (EVM) along the Transhumance Routes in Southwestern Angola: Synergies between International Cooperation and Academic Research

Solazzo,

Moretti,

Tchamba

et al. 2024

Plants

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This study delves into the ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) practiced by pastoralists along the transhumance routes in southwestern Angola. Within the framework of three cooperation projects, we conducted 434 interviews, collecting information on 89 taxa used for treating 16 livestock diseases. The most cited species was Ptaeroxylon obliquum (132 citations), followed by Salvadora persica (59) and Elaeodendron transvaalense (49). Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) was the disease most cited (223 citations; 44 species), followed by wounds (95; 20) and Newcastle (86; 14). We found that 30 species and 48 uses have not been previously reported in the ethnoveterinary literature. Jaccard index (mean value = 0.13) showed a greatly diversified knowledge among the ethnic groups: Kuvale and Nyaneka were the most knowledgeable and should be included in the various strategies for disseminating EVM in the area. Most informants recognized that abundance of some species decreased in the last years as a result of human activities and climatic changes. Finally, we discuss challenges in preserving the EVM in the area. Our findings suggest that preservation of the EVM in southwestern Angola is widely impacted by the access to biomedicine. Future studies should investigate the opportunity to integrate traditional medicine into mainstream development projects, which is crucial for decolonizing the veterinary sector in Angola.

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Effectiveness of Integrated Health Systems in Africa: A Systematic Review

Cited by 11 publications

References 37 publications

Perceptions and Experiences of Orthodox Health Practitioners and Hospital Administrators towards Integrating Traditional Medicine into the Ghanaian Health System

Perceptions and Experiences of Orthodox Health Practitioners and Hospital Administrators towards Integrating Traditional Medicine into the Ghanaian Health System

The practice of integrated healthcare and the experiences of people in Ghana’s Ashanti region

Preserving Ethnoveterinary Medicine (EVM) along the Transhumance Routes in Southwestern Angola: Synergies between International Cooperation and Academic Research

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