Perspectives of health workers on traditional medicine Integration into conventional medicine in selected Health facilities in Zimba district
Date
2019
Authors
Hamanyanga, Namuyaba
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Zambia
Abstract
Over the years, many researchers have tried to address how to integrate traditional
medicine with investment expropriation. While some countries have well
managed to combine both Traditional Medicine (TM) and Conventional Medicine
(CM) others have not. In many African, South American and Asian countries, TM is
used in parallel with conventional medicine but this often comes with considerable
difficulties. This is particularly true for what may be considered indigenous diseases
that may not easily relate to a conventional diagnosis and poses issues regarding patient
centred communication. With this situation at hand some integration between the two
systems needs to be encouraged and further, this is because the practice of traditional
medicine in Zambia is probably on the increase in spite of the great advances in
orthodox medicine. This study aimed at studying the perspectives of health care
providers on the integration of traditional medicine with conventional medicine. This
was done by exploring attitudes towards integration of TM and CM, assessing the
perceived benefits and risks of TM and by understating the motive behind referring
patients to traditional healers.
The study employed a case study design and was conducted in Zimba district in
Southern province of Zambia and targeted health workers among them nurses, doctors,
clinical officers and community health assistants. The study sample was 20 key
informants purposely selected. Purposive sampling was also used to select six health
facilities out of 11 found in Zimba. Content analysis was used for data analysis. Firstly,
the data was transcribed manually and themes were identified upon which content
analysis was based. Further some background data such as age, sex, occupation, beliefs
of respondents in witchcraft etc. was entered and analysed using SPSS version 22 and
presented in form of descriptive statistics.
In terms of background characteristics, the study found that majority of the respondents
were male (60%), and in the age bracket of 25-36 (50%) and majority were community
health assistants (45%). The study also found that majority of respondents (75%)
believed that some illnesses were caused by supernatural powers such as witchcraft.
Further, the study found that majority of respondents believed that TM has power to
cure certain illnesses such as epilepsy, STIs etc. Furthermore, the study established that
majority of health workers support the integration of TM and CM with those against
integration being in the minority. Additionally, the study established that majority of
health workers interviewed were comfortable to refer a patient to try TM if CM fails.
The study found that TM use was characterized by uncertainties in terms of its benefits
and risks. Health workers support its integration. The study therefore recommends that
government must come up with a policy to support the integration of TM with CM.
Keywords: Integration, Tradition medicine, Convention medicine, Healthcare
providers
Description
Keywords
Traditional medicine--Zambia , Conventional Medicine--Zambia