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

Irene G. Ampomah, Bunmi S. Malau-Aduli, Abdul-Aziz Seidu, Aduli E. O. Malau-Aduli and Theophilus I. Emeto
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Irene G. Ampomah: College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
Bunmi S. Malau-Aduli: College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
Abdul-Aziz Seidu: College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
Aduli E. O. Malau-Aduli: College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia
Theophilus I. Emeto: College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville 4811, Australia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-24

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: Ashanti region; hospital administrators; integrated healthcare; orthodox health practitioners; traditional medicine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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