INTEGRATION.pdf

Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2017

OBJECTIVE: In spite of the World Health Organization's recommendations over the past decades, Ghana features pluralistic rather than truly integrated medical system. Policies about the integration of complementary medicine into the national health care delivery system need to account for individuallevel involvement and cultural acceptability of care rendered by health care providers. Studies in Ghana, however, have glossed over the standpoint of the persons of the illness episode about the intercultural health care policy framework. This paper explores the health care users, and providers' experiences and attitudes towards the implementation of intercultural health care policy in Ghana. METHODS: In-depth interviews, augmented with informal conversations, were conducted with 16 health service users, 7 traditional healers and 6 health professionals in the Sekyere South District and Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Data were thematically analysed and presented based on the a posteriori inductive reduction approach. RESULTS: Findings reveal a widespread positive attitude to, and support for integrative medical care in Ghana. However, inter-provider communication in a form of cross-referrals and collaborative mechanisms between healers and health professionals seldom occurs and remains unoffi cially sanctioned. Traditional healers and health care professionals are skeptical about intercultural health care policy mainly due to inadequate political commitment for provider education. The medical practitioners have limited opportunity to undergo training for integrative medical practice. We also fi nd a serious mistrust between the practitioners due to the "diversity of healing approaches and techniques." Weak institutional support, lack of training to meet standards of practice, poor registration and regulatory measures as well as negative perception of the integrative medical policy inhibit its implementation in Ghana. CONCLUSION: In order to advance any useful intercultural health care policy in Ghana, the government's total commitment in informed training and provider education, enforcement of regulatory

Qualitative Health Research, 2021

Abstract In this study, I employed interpretive ethnographic qualitative design to explore perceptions of and proposals from traditional healers, biomedical practitioners, and health care consumers regarding integrating traditional medicine and healing in Ghana. Data were gathered through focus groups, in-depth individual interviews, and qualitative questionnaires and analyzed thematically. The results revealed positive attitudes toward integrating traditional medicine in Ghana and a discursive discourse of power relations. The power imbalance between biomedical and traditional practitioners regarding what integrative models to adopt is sanctioned by formal education and institutional structure. As a result, multiple approaches for integration were made, including patient co-referrals, collaborations between biomedical and traditional medical practitioners, and creating a unit for traditional medicine and healers at the outpatients’ department for patients to choose either biomedicine or traditional medicine. Incorporating aspects of traditional healing in the training of biomedical practitioners and creating a space for knowledge sharing were also proposed. These integrative models reflected the distinctive interests of healers and biomedical practitioners. Considering these findings, I recommended policy options for consideration toward achieving an integrative health care system in Ghana. Keywords: traditional medicine; integrative health care system; medical worldviews; power politics; Ghana; interpretive ethnography

Journal of Sociological Research, 2013

Traditional Medicine (TM) has been practised in Ghana from time immemorial and many Ghanaians still patronise the services of traditional medical practitioners (TMPs). However, TM has not been integrated into the formal healthcare delivery system of the country. This might be partly due to attitudes and perceptions towards it. The aim of the study was to find out the attitudes and perceptions of Scientific Medical Practitioners (SMPs) towards TM in Ghana and then propose measures for the full integration of TM into Ghana's healthcare delivery system. A descriptive survey methodology was used to solicit responses from all 33 SMPs practising in the Central Region of Ghana. An in-depth interview and self administered questionnaire were the main instruments used for data collection. The main result of the study is that, although SMPs would want the full integration of TM into the formal healthcare delivery system, when confronted with possible ways of working with TMPs they showed reluctance to accepting them as equal partners since they perceived their practice as inferior to theirs. In order to reduce the mistrust and lack of understanding of the philosophy that underlie Scientific Medicine and Traditional Medicine, there must be regular consultations and dialogue between and among practitioners of the two medical systems. This may engender the needed trust and respect that the practitioners need to accord each other in order to develop and integrate TM into the national healthcare system.

Qualitative Health Research

In this study, I employed interpretive ethnographic qualitative design to explore perceptions of and proposals from traditional healers, biomedical practitioners, and health care consumers regarding integrating traditional medicine and healing in Ghana. Data were gathered through focus groups, in-depth individual interviews, and qualitative questionnaires and analyzed thematically. The results revealed positive attitudes toward integrating traditional medicine in Ghana and a discursive discourse of power relations. The power imbalance between biomedical and traditional practitioners regarding what integrative models to adopt is sanctioned by formal education and institutional structure. As a result, multiple approaches for integration were made, including patient co-referrals, collaborations between biomedical and traditional medical practitioners, and creating a unit for traditional medicine and healers at the outpatients’ department for patients to choose either biomedicine or tra...

2019

Over the years, traditional and modern healthcare practices are combined in different proportions in the treatment of ailments in different societies. The call for the integration of traditional and modern health systems has gained prominence in the global health development agenda. This paper examines the critical factors that influence the integration of traditional medical practices (TMPs) and orthodox (modern) medical practices (OMPs) in Ghana via a case study of the Wenchi Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region. A qualitative research approach was used to analyse pertinent existing literature on the subject while field was collected through face to face interviews with orthodox and traditional healthcare providers as well as healthcare seekers. Purposive sampling was employed to select 35 key informants for interview. The information collected from desk research and field work was subjected to content analysis and the results systematically presented in this paper indicated tha...

International Health

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 interprofess...

Recognition and Integration of Traditional Medicine in Ghana: a perspective, 2010

The paper examines the processes of recognition and legitimization of traditional medicine in Ghana and indicates that in Ghana, indigenous medicine has been used as an instrument to help develop political consensus and consciousness and in the building of a national identity. The Ghanaian government recognizes traditional medicine and has a policy for the integration of indigenous medicine; the paper shows that the policy limits traditional medicine almost exclusively to herbal products and the scientific elements of it without taking into consideration its other dimensions of treating illnesses. Thus the policy leads to bureaucratization of traditional medicine. The paper calls for a policy of integration that will promote a parallel and full development of both orthodox and indigenous therapeutic traditions to enable them to continue to provide the health care needs of the people.

International Nursing Review, 2006

TABI M.M., POWELL M. & HODNICKI D. (2006) Use of traditional healers and modern medicine in Ghana. International Nursing Review 53 , 52-58

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

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 ...

2016

Background: People from different cultural backgrounds have used different forms of Traditional Medicine as a means to managing their ailments. This study examined public perceptions of the role of Traditional Medicine in relation to the accessibility, conditions treated, safety, efficacy rate and interactions between traditional and orthodox medical systems in the Sekyere South District of Ashanti, Ghana. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A sample of 70 Traditional Medical Practitioners, 30 health care users, and 20 Orthodox Medical Practitioners were used and selected respectively based on snowball, random sampling and purposive techniques. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through administered-questionnaire and in-depth interviews. Non-participant observation was used to assess the working environments of the practitioners in 9 selected communities in the district. Relevant data obtained were analysed using both qualitative and quantitati...