An Assessment of Care-Seeking Behavior in Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District: A Triple Pluralistic Health Sector Approach

Abstract

Discussions and studies on Ghana's pluralistic health care system usually ignore or downplay self-care as a crucial sector in this system of care. In view of this, this study uses a triple sector approach of the pluralistic health care system as advocated by Kleinman to assess care-seeking behaviors of residents in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District (Ghana). The results of cross-tabulation analysis demonstrate that respondents' general care-seeking behavior is different from the type of care sought for last illness before the study. Data for the study were obtained from 227 urban and rural respondents in the study district in 2013. The findings indicate that factors such as geographic location, health insurance, and perception of the cost of professional care had a bearing on residents' general care-seeking behavior. However, age, sex, relationship status, economic status, and proximity to nearest biomedical care service influenced the type of treatment sought for last illness. The approach use of the study demonstrates that self-care remains a general avenue of care for residents, whereas in times of severe illness, respondents often rely on professional biomedical care. The use of professional indigenous care services is generally low due to the financial burden associated with its use.

Modern or traditional health care? Understanding the role of insurance in health-seeking behaviours among older Ghanaians

“…A considerable number of persons of lower income status are unenrolled in the NHIS, a situation largely attributable to limited financial capabilities to meet the insurance premium (Dixon et al, 2011;Jehu-Appiah et al, 2011;Aryeetey et al, 2013;Kusi et al, 2015). In the midst of widespread poverty, individuals often have to make a budgetary trade-off for vital goods such as food, in order to afford the health insurance premiums (Dixon et al, 2011;2014;Fenny et al, 2016). Economic vulnerability of persons of lower income, as well as their inability to afford health insurance premiums, means this section of the Ghanaian population have limited access to and use of modern health care services.…”

“…It comprises of the use of animal-based, plant-based and mineral-based medicine, as well as, the use of spiritual therapies in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement and treatment of physical and psychosocial illness (World Health Organisation, 2013 ). Traditional medical practitioners include herbalist, bone setters, faith healers and spiritualist (Amegbor 2014 ; World Health Organisation, 2013 ; Lakshmi et al , 2015 ). Evidence from existing studies show that TM is effective in treating various illness and common health conditions such as malaria, cholera and typhoid, as well as complex health issues such as infertility (O’Brien et al , 2012 ; Thorsen and Pouliot, 2015 ; Towns and Van Andel, 2016 ).…”

Self-reported morbidity and health service utilization in rural Tamil Nadu, India

“…Thus, following familiarization with the qualitative data, 119 coding themes were developed from the data using an iterative reflexive process (Corbin & 120 Strauss, 1990, 2014. 121…”

“…However, 62 specific HSB determinants are unique to each population and context (Mackian, 2003;Shaikh & 63 Hatcher, 2005). As such, in order to effectively address healthcare access inequalities, HSB must 64 be considered within rural Tamil Nadu's broader social context (Amegbor, 2014;Navaneetham & 65 Dharmalingam, 2002;. 66…”

The effect of traditional healer intervention prior to allopathic care on pediatric burn mortality in Malawi

“…This relationship is very complex and fraught with challenging ethical dilemmas regarding balancing the needs of a community and improving traditional therapies, while not ignoring the potential benefits of a patient's proximity to a THP, nor minimizing the deep cultural connections between the community and the THP [26,27]. Regardless, the reality is that many patients living in sub-Saharan Africa seek health care from the most accessible, available, and affordable option [28]. In Malawi and many other countries in the region, this is often a local, traditional health practitioner.…”