The Place of Traditional Medicine in the African Society: The Science, Acceptance and Support

Antwi‐Baffour, Samuel

doi:10.11648/j.ajhr.20140202.13

Cited by 37 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In addition, modern healthcare techniques have been less effective in the treatment of some infectious diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS which have affected Africa more than any other part of the world [6]. Furthermore, the use of traditional medicine has been attributed to the high cost and inaccessibility of modern healthcare care services compared to the cheap and readily available herbal medicine [6,7]. e traditional communities have recently begun to appreciate the effectiveness of modern healthcare services against diseases such as HIV/AIDS leading to a reduction in the number of people relying on traditional medicine [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Ethnobotanical Survey of a Dryland Botanical Garden and Its Environs in Kenya: The Mutomo Hill Plant Sanctuary

Mutie

Gao

Kathambi

et al. 2020

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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Mutomo hill plant sanctuary is a ten-hectare piece of land in Kenya listed as a botanical garden under the Botanical Gardens Conservation International, originally established in 1964 with the aim of conserving indigenous flora from destructive anthropogenic activities. This paper presents ethnobotanical documentation of medicinal plants of Mutomo hill plant sanctuary and its environs. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in Mutomo hill plant sanctuary and its environs with 48 herbalists aged between 32 and 96 years from July 2018 to February 2019 using a semistructured open-ended questionnaire. The plants were collected through random surveys with each herbalist in different ecotypes around the villages and within the Mutomo hill plant sanctuary. The Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) for each species reported was calculated to determine the plant species frequently collected. In total, 68 different plant species distributed in 28 families and 54 genera were reported. The frequently used plant families were Leguminosae (13 species), Lamiaceae (6 species), and Euphorbiaceae (6 species). Shrubs (37%) and trees (34%) were the dominant growth habits reported. The most cited plant species were Cassia abbreviata Oliv. (RFC = 0.63), Acacia nilotica (L.). Delile (RFC = 0.54), Strychnos heningsii Gilg (RFC = 0.46), and Aloe secundiflora Engl. (RFC = 0.31). Root (19 species) and bark (19 species) were the frequently collected plant parts. Infectious diseases (33) and digestive system disorders (24) were reported to be managed with the majority of the plant species. This study contributes to safeguarding the traditional knowledge on medicinal plants in the study area, which is useful in appreciating and acknowledging the cultural heritage of the Kamba people from the local perspective of Mutomo area in Kenya. It also adds to the knowledge base and documentation of medicinal plants, which is useful information as potential data for drug development.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Ethnobotanical Survey of a Dryland Botanical Garden and Its Environs in Kenya: The Mutomo Hill Plant Sanctuary

Mutie

Gao

Kathambi

et al. 2020

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Traditional medicine plays a crucial role for 70-90% of the African population as a primary health care option [4]. The practice of traditional medicine in Africa is a method of healing founded on its own concept of indigenous knowledge systems that developed over a long period of time within various societies [4]. Being practiced for countless generations well before the introduction of Western medical care, traditional medicine is culturally valued and accepted by most African communities [5][6][7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of traditional and complementary medicine for maternal health and wellbeing by African migrant women in Australia: a mixed method study

Shewamene

Dune

Smith

2020

BMC Complement Med Ther

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Background: Traditional medicine serves as a form of primary health care for more than 80% of African populations. Currently, there is no research documenting if and how African migrant communities engage with their traditional health practices and beliefs after they resettle in Western countries. The aim of this study was to examine African migrant women's experiences and perspectives about traditional and complementary medicine use in relation to their maternal health and wellbeing in Australia. Methods: We conducted a mixed method study between December 2016 and October 2017. Questionnaires were completed by 319 women and 15 in-depth interviews were conducted among African migrant women residing across the Sydney metropolitan area, Australia. Survey data were analysed using SPSS (version 23) and logistic regression model was used to test associations. Qualitative data were analysed thematically using NVivo 11 software to identify themes and conceptual categories in the participants' responses. The study was informed by Andersen's Socio-behavioural model of health service utilisation. Results: The findings indicated that use of traditional and complementary medicine was high and continued to be well used following African women's resettlement in Australia. The survey found that 232 (72.7%) women use some form of traditional and complementary medicine for maternal health and wellbeing purposes. Most women (179, 77.2%) reported that maintaining their maternal health and wellbeing was the most common reason for use. The interview findings indicated that access to traditional medicine included making requests from relatives and friends who travelled to Africa looking for a similar medicinal plant in Australia and preparing home remedies with advice from family members and healers back in Africa. Age ≥ 35 years (OR, 16.5; 95%CI,; p < 0.001), lower education (OR,24; 95%CI, p < 0.001), parity (OR, 7.3; 95%CI,; p = 0.029), and lower income (OR, 2.7; 95%CI, 1.23-5.83; p = 0.013) were strong predictors of traditional medicine use. Conclusion: Use of traditional and complementary medicine among African migrant women in Sydney remained high following resettlement in Australia. As noted in Andersen's sociobehavioural model of health service utilisation, specific predisposing and enabling factors including age, education and income were associated with use of traditional and complementary medicine.

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“…In Ghana, it is estimated that the ratio of traditional medical practitioners (TMPs) to the population is 1: 400. 35,36 This group is a heterogeneous one with different categories of healers. They include bonesetters and herbalists who specialize in the use of herbs and plants, with or without fetish (or spirits) in treating patients.…”

Section: Traditional Medical Practitioners Engaged In the Management mentioning

confidence: 99%

Traditional medicines and alternative practice in the management of prostate diseases in southern Ghana

Kyei

Klufio

Ali

et al. 2017

Ghana Medical Journal

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Objective: This study was aimed at identifying Ghanaian traditional medicines used for the management of prostate diseases and their constituents. Reviews of studies conducted on them are also presented. Methodology: This was a prospective study. Traditional Medicine samples from consecutive patients with either lower urinary symptoms (LUTS) presenting at the Urology Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra from January 2015 to June 2016 and had a prior treatment with traditional medicines, had the samples retrieved. Additionally, all the 58 licensed pharmaceutical shops in Okaishie, a whole sale and retail depot for medicines in the main business district of Accra, were visited and traditional medicines for the management of prostate diseases acquired. The products constituent as labeled were documented and entered once on a proforma. This study was part of a study on the management of benign prostate hyperplasia at the KBTH approved by the Medical Directorate. The findings were analyzed and presented using descriptive statistics and presented as a table. Results: Eleven products were identified with the main indigenous medicinal plant identified being the root extract of Croton membranaceus. This was the constituent in four products (Uro 500 ® , UR-Quick mixture ® , Prostacure® and prostat®60). Although studies on the basic pharmacology and animal studies have confirmed its effect on the prostate, only one clinical study was identified. Conclusion: Croton membranaceus was the indigenous traditional medicine identified for relieving LUTS due to prostate disease. There is the need for empirical evidence on its efficacy in treating Prostate cancer.

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The Place of Traditional Medicine in the African Society: The Science, Acceptance and Support

Cited by 37 publications

References 14 publications

An Ethnobotanical Survey of a Dryland Botanical Garden and Its Environs in Kenya: The Mutomo Hill Plant Sanctuary

An Ethnobotanical Survey of a Dryland Botanical Garden and Its Environs in Kenya: The Mutomo Hill Plant Sanctuary

Use of traditional and complementary medicine for maternal health and wellbeing by African migrant women in Australia: a mixed method study

Traditional medicines and alternative practice in the management of prostate diseases in southern Ghana

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