Perspectives in musculoskeletal injury management by traditional bone setters in Ashanti, Ghana

Abstract

BackgroundThe popularity of the services of traditional bone setters (TBS) in Ghana as an alternative health care requires exploration and documentation of the perspectives of providers and users.ObjectiveTo explore and document the perspectives of providers and users of the services of TBS in the management of musculoskeletal injuries in the Ashanti region, Ghana.MethodsFrom the social constructivist and qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were used to explore the perspectives of eight TBS and 16 users of their services, selected purposively through snowballing. Thematic content analysis (TCA) was employed.ResultsHigh recovery rate, warm reception, prompt attention, and the relatively lower charges, are reported to motivate the patronage of the services of TBS for the management of fractures in the legs, arms, ribs, joint bones dislocations, waist and spinal cord problems. The TBS combined traditional and orthodox procedures, using plant and animal-based materials, beliefs, spirituality (God-given) and physical therapy in the management of musculoskeletal injuries. No adverse experience was reported by either the providers or users of the traditional management methods.ConclusionWith plant and animal-based materials, TBS are observed to combine traditional and orthodox procedures to confidently manage musculoskeletal injuries to the satisfaction of their highly motivated patrons. Although over 60% of the TBS attribute the healing power behind their practice to God, the rest do not discount the role of spiritual therapy. Further studies expanded to include the perspectives of non-users of the services of the TBS will authenticate the findings of this study.

Traditional bone setting and trauma care in South-Eastern Chad

“…Many key lessons can be drawn from this exploratory study regarding the Jabari in southeastern Chad. Jabari are similar to other sub-Saharan TBS with regards to many of the reasons community members patronize Jabari, the community's perception they are less expensive and more effective with fracture care, and their actual methods of fracture care 1,2,12,13,[15][16][17] . This would make the Jabari seem to be ideal candidates for similar traditional bonesetter training and incorporation into government healthcare systems as called for in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Ghana 4,8,15,17 .…”

“…This may be due to issues plaguing healthcare systems such as lack of medical staff, lack of transportation to healthcare fa-cilities, and inequitable allocation of government funding 6,9,[12][13][14] . Many African communities may also prefer TBS over Western medicine due to their convenience of care, affordability, fear of Western medical practices, and preference for traditional remedies 1,4,13,15 . Previous studies have found that local physicians understand the importance of TBS to the healthcare system 3 .…”

“…In some African countries, lack of formal training and regulation leads to inexperienced and illequipped TBS being able to practice without safety or outcome surveillance. In response, there have been growing calls from the medical community for TBS to be trained, regulated, and integrated into existing healthcare systems, supported by successful short training programs seen in Nigeria and Ethiopia 4,8,9,[15][16][17]19,20 . However, no substantial implementation of these ideas have been attempted yet in sub-Saharan Africa.…”

Mismanagement by native bone setters and its complications - An observational and retrospective study

“…According to our survey family/friend was the most commonest reason for preferring native bone setters treatment which were similarly noted in other studies. 8,16,17,[27][28][29] And in some parts of Africa, socio cultural beliefs was the reason for preferring native bone setters treatment. [30][31][32] A study done in Northern Ghana, their observation showed the most common reason was superstition (37.5%), followed by affordability (31.25%) and easy accessibility (7.5%) for preferring native bone setters treatment.…”

Mersin’de Bir Kadın Sınıkçının Uygulamaları

“…7 Bir diğer kaynakta Gana, Ashanti bölgesinde kas-iskelet yaralanmalarında geleneksel kemik iyileştiricilere yönelik uygulamaların alternatif sağlık hizmeti içinde yer aldığı belirtilmiştir. 8 Aynı kaynakta kas iskelet sistemi yaralanmalarında geleneksel yöntemlerle iyileşme oranının %60'ın üzerinde olduğu, bunun da sağaltıcılara olan güveni arttırdığı ve uygulamalarında manevi terapiyi sıklıkla kullandığı belirtilmiştir 8 . Ulusal ölçekte Isparta İli'nde halkın geleneksel tedavi tercihini belirlemeye yönelik yapılan araştırmada katılımcıların %68'i hayatının herhangi bir döneminde en az bir kez geleneksel sağlık uygulamalarını kullandığını belirtmiştir.…”