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Anthony NketiaEmmanuel Nakua
Andrews William Tetteh
Kwesi Prah Thomford
Kwame O. Boadu
Ama Kyeraa Thomford
Richmond Amo
Original Research Article
Herbal medicine practice in Ghana: A cross-sectional study to understand the factors influencing patient utilization of herbal medicine services
Anthony Nketia1*, Emmanuel Nakua2, Andrews William Tetteh3, Kwesi Prah Thomford4, Kwame O. Boadu5, Ama Kyeraa Thomford6 and Richmond Amo7
1Department of Health Promotion, Education and Disability Studies, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
2Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
3Herbal Medicine Unit, Kumasi South Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
4Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
5Department of Maternal and Child Health, Kumasi South Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana.
6Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
7Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Hospital, Kumasi,Ghana
*Corresponding Author Email: nketiaanthony(at)gmail.com
Anthony Nketia |
Emmanuel Nakua |
Andrews William Tetteh |
Kwesi Prah Thomford |
Kwame O. Boadu |
Ama Kyeraa Thomford |
Richmond Amo |
Article Number: irjpeh.22.003 | Pages: 16-23 | Vol. 9 (1), February 2022 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.15739/irjpeh.22.003
Received: December 14, 2021 Accepted: February 24, 2022 Published: February 7, 2022
Abstract
The practice of herbal medicine is the most prevalent form of traditional medicine or complementary and alternative medicine utilized in many countries across the globe. This study assesses the factors influencing the use and preference for herbal medicines compared to orthodox medicines among clients visiting some selected herbal units in the Kumasi Metropolis operating under the Ghana Health Service. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Primary data was collected from 413 participants using semi-structured questionnaires. Convenience sampling technique were used to select the participants. Results indicated that 80.90 % of the respondents interviewed preferred herbal medicines to orthodox medicines. Factors influencing this preference were occupation, nature/severity of condition and cost of certified herbal drugs dispensed at the herbal unit. Also, respondents sought the services of the herbal unit for conditions which orthodox treatment outcomes are poor. The overall cost of certified herbal products prescribed at these units were considered as affordable by participants. Herbal medicine is preferred compared to orthodox medicine by patients utilizing the services of the herbal unit at government hospitals within Kumasi Metropolis.
Keywords:
Cross-sectional studies, herbal medicine practice, integration, traditional medicine.
How to Cite this Article
Nketia A, Nakua E, Tetteh AW, Thomford KP, Boadu KO, Thomford AK, Amo R (2022). Herbal medicine practice in Ghana: A cross-sectional study to understand the factors influencing patient utilization of herbal medicine services. Int. Res. J. Pub. Environ. Health 9(1):16-23.
Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. Author(s) agree that this article remain permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License.