Use of traditional healers and modern medicine in Ghana

Tabi, Marian; Powell, Michelle; Hodnicki, Donna R.

doi:10.1111/j.1466-7657.2006.00444.x

Cited by 117 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Religious influence may also be a contributory factor to reduced access to NTFPs. Roots, herbs, leaves and animals used in traditional medicine are important in the healthcare delivery system in the area, and religious bonds have been found to impact the choices made by individuals seeking healthcare services (Tabi et al, 2006). Traditional medicine consists of health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating animal-or plant-based medicines and spiritual therapies, used either singularly or in combination, to treat, diagnose and prevent illness and to maintain well-being (WHO, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of access to forest products in southern Burkina Faso

Coulibaly-Lingani

Tigabu

Savadogo

et al. 2009

Forest Policy and Economics

108

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of access to forest products in southern Burkina Faso

Coulibaly-Lingani

Tigabu

Savadogo

et al. 2009

Forest Policy and Economics

108

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“…According to the World Health Organization in some African countries, 80% of the population depends on traditional medicine for primary health care [3]. African folk medicine is a holistic discipline involving extensive use of indigenous herbalism combined with aspects of African spirituality [4]. In general, the traditional medicine encompasses the use of substances such as herbs, plants, animals and mineral elements, with dosages and practices based on sociocultural norms and religious beliefs as well as witnessed experiences and observation of a specific group, namely traditional healers [5][6][7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Neurological Disorders in West Africa: A Case Study with Guinea-Bissau Flora

Romeiras¹,

Cristina²,

Indjai³

et al. 2012

AJPS

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The sub-Saharan region holds a wide variety of indigenous plant species, still offering the possibility to discover very interesting new natural products with potential therapeutic value. Most of the African population depends on traditional medicine for primary health care, however, neurological disorders are often not considered as common diseases and many people with mental illnesses, like epilepsy, are severely affected by health-related stigma and discrimination. Epilepsy is the most common serious chronic brain disorder, estimated to affect at least 10 million people in Africa. Guinea-Bissau is located in West Africa, and its population is mainly rural with very few health services available. Since the earliest times, Guinea-Bissau flora has constituted the main source of materials used in folk medicine and the local population, who is well versed in the uses of these plants and their properties. The aim of this study was to document the existing knowledge and practices related to the treatment of neurological disorders, namely epilepsy and seizures, in Guinea-Bissau and in other West African countries. The results presented from this study provide information not only on the specific plants used to treat neurological disorders, but also on social knowledge brought in by various ethnic groups, each one having its own culture, beliefs and ways of nature appropriation. Taking into account the existing knowledge on the medicinal properties of plants for treatment of neurologic disorders, it is believed that research in the areas of ethnomedicine and ethnopharmacology in Guinea-Bissau can bring promising results capable of adding value to the very rich natural resources of this country of West Africa.

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“…The evidence seems to indicate that traditional healers, herbalists and birth attendants in African societies [19], have always maintained this tradition. Similar studies have concluded that traditional methods of protecting infants/children from diseases were still common in developing countries [20]. The analysis of our data suggests that Mali has a pluralistic medical system where biomedical and traditional medical systems coexist.…”

Section: Use Of Traditional Medicines For Child Health Care During Thmentioning

confidence: 49%

Women´s Experiences in Accessing Maternal and Child Health Services During the Period of the Armed Conflict in the North of Mali

Degni¹,

Amara²,

Klemetti³

2015

TOPHJ

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Abstract:Background: During the year 2012 armed conflict in the northern regions of Mali, health care services were no longer able to run in the normal way and women's access to health services became a critical issue in those regions. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the women's experiences in accessing maternal and child health services during the period of the armed conflict in the north of Mali. Methodology: The interviews were conducted with 28 married women between September and October 2013. The women were recruited in Sévaré's refugee camp and by snowball sampling from the neighborhood village of Waîlirdré. Results: 27 multiparous women and one childless woman were interviewed. They were all married, between 20 and 56 years old. During the armed conflict, several health facilities were destroyed, the few that could offer some health services were lacking of medicines and personnel. Doctors, nurses and midwives have left. Some pregnant women have had severe complications, or miscarriages. Some died during the delivery at home or in the maternity clinics because they were brought too late. Newborns died during home delivery and also some children less than 5 years old died because of the lack of healthcare services. Some women were abused sexually by the Islamist Jihadists who forced them to submit fundamentalist Islamic rules and prohibited them to access to family planning services. During the armed conflict, women used more traditional medicines for child healthcare. They expressed their fear about their health and that of their children once they have returned home. Conclusion: Women had difficulties to access to healthcare services in the northern regions of Mali. The atrocities of Islamist Jihadists against the population and the destruction and looting of the healthcare facilities had considerably reduced access to health services during the armed conflict. There is urgent need for women's and children's healthcare services in these regions. Programmes to support sexually abused women also need to be the health care priorities.

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Use of traditional healers and modern medicine in Ghana

Abstract: Findings indicate that traditional and modern medicines will always be part of Ghanaian healthcare delivery and efforts should be made to integrate traditional practitioners into the national healthcare delivery system.

Cited by 117 publications

References 6 publications

Determinants of access to forest products in southern Burkina Faso

Determinants of access to forest products in southern Burkina Faso

Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Neurological Disorders in West Africa: A Case Study with Guinea-Bissau Flora

Women´s Experiences in Accessing Maternal and Child Health Services During the Period of the Armed Conflict in the North of Mali

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