Traditional medicine as an alternative form of health care system: A preliminary case study of Nangabo sub-county, Central Uganda
This study was conducted in Nangabo sub-county of Wakiso district. The purpose was to document the common Traditional Medicine (TM) practices; assess the local people′s preferences for TM versus western medicine (WM) and lastly to determine the awareness about the importance of TM by local people. D...
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Veröffentlicht in: | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines complementary, and alternative medicines, 2009-10, Vol.7 (1), p.11-16 |
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Zusammenfassung: | This study was conducted in Nangabo sub-county of Wakiso district. The
purpose was to document the common Traditional Medicine (TM) practices;
assess the local people′s preferences for TM versus western
medicine (WM) and lastly to determine the awareness about the
importance of TM by local people. Data were collected using
semi-structured administered face-to-face with respondents. A total of
120 interviewed. Six focused group discussions (FGDs) were held to
validate the questionnaire responses. Data were analyzed descriptively
using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings
indicated that most (43%) respondents derive their livelihoods from
traditional medicine practices. Three forms of TM were
reported-herbalism (67%), spiritual counseling (23%) and bone setting
(10%). Although the majority (81%) of respondents were quite aware of
the importance of TM in the sustenance of health care system, majority
(55%) of them shunned TM in preference to WM, largely because of the
belief that TM is evil-founded and devilish in nature. Only 45% of the
respondents preferred TM to WM. The main reasons given for visiting TM
practioners rather than western medical practitioners were that TM is
sometimes more effective than WM and that in many instances it has very
minimal side effects on the human body. There is, however, a need for
Ugandan government to legitimize the practice of TM since it
contributes a lot to health care needs in areas where western medicine
is insufficiently provided. In addition, there is a need for further
research into the efficacy and safety of traditional medicines if it is
to be adequately integrated into western medicine. |
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ISSN: | 0189-6016 2505-0044 0189-6016 |
DOI: | 10.4314/ajtcam.v7i1.57224 |