www.ccsenet.org/gjhs Global Journal of Health Science Vol. 3, No.

2; October 2011

Public Perceptions of the Role of Traditional Medicine in the Health

Care Delivery System in Ghana

Razak Mohammed Gyasi (Corresponding Author)

Department of Geography and Rural Development, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
Postal Box 3419, Kumasi, Ghana
Tel: 233-243-235-414 E-mail: [email protected]

Charlotte Monica Mensah

Department of Geography and Rural Development, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
Tel: 233-207-732-713 E-mail: [email protected]

Prince Osei-Wusu Adjei

Department of Geography and Rural Development, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
Tel: 233-243-126-093 E-mail: [email protected].

Seth Agyemang
Department of Geography and Rural Development, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
Tel: 233-243-237-658 E-mail: [email protected]

Received: January 27, 2011 Accepted: February 10, 2011 doi:10.5539/gjhs.v3n2p40

Abstract
Background: People from different cultural backgrounds have used different forms of Traditional Medicine as a
means to managing their ailments. This study examined public perceptions of the role of Traditional Medicine in
relation to the accessibility, conditions treated, safety, efficacy rate and interactions between traditional and
orthodox medical systems in the Sekyere South District of Ashanti, Ghana. Methods: This was a descriptive
cross-sectional survey. A sample of 70 Traditional Medical Practitioners, 30 health care users, and 20 Orthodox
Medical Practitioners were used and selected respectively based on snowball, random sampling and purposive
techniques. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through administered-questionnaire and in-depth
interviews. Non-participant observation was used to assess the working environments of the practitioners in 9
selected communities in the district. Relevant data obtained were analysed using both qualitative and quantitative
methods. Percentages and cross-tabulations, using the Predictive Analytic Software (PASW), version i6.0 were
the methods used to analyse the data.
Findings: The main findings suggest that Traditional Medicine is effective as it was employed in treating
numerous medical conditions such as malaria, typhoid fever, arthritis, jaundice, impotency, infertility, stroke,
broken bones, boils, piles, HIV/AIDS, mental illness, etc. However, safety of use of the Traditional Medicine is
not standardized. Moreover, there is some form of interaction between the two health care providers through
cross-referrals though; the cross-referral systems are not coordinated and strictly unofficial. Traditional Medicine
is readily available to the people and also less expensive, hence easily accessible. Policy options that seek to
address some difficulties and challenges encountered by the practices of Traditional Medicine and improving upon
the quality, safety, and standard of service are recommended. Conclusion: The conclusion drawn from the
research is that Traditional Medicine is used by many people to managing numerous conditions. It is accessible
and effective. It therefore plays a significant role by reducing life-threatening ailments of humanity. This study
adds to the scant but growing documented literature about the potentials of Traditional Medicine.

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Keywords: Traditional Medicine, Accessibility, Arthritis, Orthodox medicine, Ghana

1. Introduction
Ailments have over the years been a scourge and a threat to mankind. People from different cultural backgrounds
have used different herbal plants, plant extracts, animal products and mineral substances (Addae-Mensah, 1992) as
the means to care, cure and treat ill-health, with disease prevention, and with health promotion (Curtis and Taket,
1996) since pre-historic times.
Traditional Medicine (TM) embraces the ways of protecting and restoring health that existed before the arrival of
orthodox medicine (OM) (World Health Organisation [WHO], 2001). WHO therefore defines TM as diverse
health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal, and/or mineral based medicines,
spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises applied singularly or in combination to maintain well-being,
as well as to treat, diagnose or prevent illness (WHO, 2002; 2000). Buor (1993) in his study on impacts of TM in
the health care delivery services in Ghana argues that TM involves the use by the folk population primarily of
unorthodox and unscientific method for curative and prevention of diseases. It has been debated whether the word
“traditional” should be used at all, as it implies some degree of stagnancy or backwardness (Hougen et al, 1998).
TM is assuming greater importance in the primary health care of individuals and communities in many developing
countries (Peltzer and Mngqundaniso, 2008; WHO, 2002; 1978). These approaches to health care belong to the
traditions of each culture, and have been handed down from generation to generation (WHO, 1996). China and
India, for example, have developed very sophisticated contemporary and alternative medicine systems such as
acupuncture and ayurvedic for decades (Addae-Mensah, 2002; Agyare et al, 2006). In fact, TM reflects the
socio-religious structure of indigenous societies from which it developed, together with the values, behaviours and
practices within their communities. TM ultimately aims at restoring the physical, mental and social wellbeing of
the patient, through alternative health care delivery to the orthodox medical system.
Tribes, cultures and indigenous people of nations throughout the world have evolved system of TM for generations,
and communities have found most of these medical practices valuable and affordable and still depend on them for
their health care needs. The WHO estimates that about 60% of the world’s people uses herbal medicine for treating
their sicknesses and up to 80% of the population living in the African Region depends on TM for some aspects of
primary health care (WHO, 2000). Indeed, in rural communities in Ghana, like other developing countries and
elsewhere, TM will continue to remain a vital and permanent part of the people’s own health care system.
The efficacy and potency of TM are indeed attracting global attention (Peltzer and Mngqundaniso, 2008; Mwangi,
2004; Buor, 1993) and that traditional, complementary and alternative medicine is globally increasing in
popularity (Kaboru et al, 2006). The global trend indicates that even in the advanced countries, more people with
the most advanced and sophisticated OM system are making headway in TM use to cater for their health care
requirements (WHO, 2001). Studies have shown that, almost 70% of the population in Australia used at least one
form of contemporary and alternative medicine (CAM), and 44.1% visited CAM practitioners in 2007. Also, the
annual ‘out of pocket’ expenditure on CAM, nationally, was estimated at US$ 3.12 billion (Xue et al, 2010). In the
Netherlands, 60%, while in the United Kingdom, 74% of the people are advocating for the inclusion of CAM into
the National Health Service. The percentage of the population which has used CAM at least once in Canada,
France, USA and Belgium stands at 70% , 75%, 42% and 38% respectively (WHO, 2002). A survey
conducted in the member states of the European Union in 1991 revealed that 1,400 herbal drugs were used in the
European Economic Community by patients (WHO, 1996). One-third of American adults have also used
alternative treatment and there is a fast growing interest in CAM system in the developed world (WHO, 2001;
1996).
WHO reported in 2001 that in Malaysia, about US$ 500 million is spent annually on TM compared to only about
US$ 300 million on OM. In China, TM accounts for 30–50% of the total population consumption (WHO, 1998).
Sri Lanka steadily worked towards the goal of enhancing the effectiveness of TM, such that, now, even the highly
literate consult TMPs before visiting orthodox health institutions (Aluwihare, 1982; Buor, 1993; Peltzer, 1998,
2000a, 2003; Wilkinson and Wilkinson, 1998; Ndulo, 2001). Majority of Sri Lankans, estimated at 55-60% rely on
TM and traditional birth attendants (WHO, 2001). Indeed, in 1996, the total annual sales of herbal medicines
reached US$ 14 billion worldwide (WHO, 2001). In countries for which more detailed data are available, the
percentage of the population that uses TM ranges from 90% in Burundi and Ethiopia, to 80% in Burkina Faso, the
Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa; 70% in Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Rwanda and Sudan;
and 60% in Tanzania and Uganda (WHO, 2000). A study published by UNAIDS shows that about two-thirds of
HIV/AIDS patients in developing countries use TM to obtain symptomatic relief, manage opportunistic infections
and boost their immune systems (UNAIDS, 2003; Osei-Edwards, 2003). The medicines used by the practitioners

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to treat AIDS patients are rightly available locally (WHO, 2001). Their familiarity with patients and also the
communities in which they operate serve as an added advantage to relief the AIDS patients. The traditional healers
are recognised, acknowledged and trusted in their communities; they could therefore be used as counsellors and
health educators to cure the spread of STIs, HIV and AIDS in Africa (ibid).
Furtherance, 60% of the children with high fever due to malaria was successfully treated with herbal medicines in
Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Zambia in 1998 (WHO, 2001). Indeed, the use of TM and the services of traditional
healers by millions of Africans have been recognised by the WHO and in 1977, the World Health Assembly (WHA)
drew attention to the potentials and the efficacy of herbal medicine in the national health care systems. The WHA
urged member countries to utilise those medicines (Akerele, 1987; Nakajima, 1987) to broaden the coverage of
health care in their respective countries. The malaria endemic countries in Africa have herbs for treating the fever.
According to Buor (1993) and Awadh, et al (2004) the malaria parasite, especially the plasmodium falciparum has
developed resistance to almost all the anti-malaria drugs and there is the need to develop herbal substitutes not only
for the chemical side effects of orthodox medicine but also for the expensiveness of the orthodox health care.
In Ghana, up to the middle of the 19th century, most indigenous people had no access to OM and relied entirely on
herbal and other traditional medical services for their primary health care needs (Tchiakpe, 2004: unpublished
master’s thesis). With the scarcity of orthodox doctors, nurses and paucity of modern hospitals and clinics, the
large majorities of people have to rely on sources other than OM and treatment. For example, in Ghana there is one
traditional practitioner to approximately 386 people, whilst the ratio of orthodox doctors to population stands at
1:10 700; nurses to population ratio is 1:1 578 (MOH, 2006).
People’s own perception of the role of TM is not explicitly studied in Ghana. There are numerous expressions
associated with the potentials of TM. Exploring these concerns will inform decision towards its improvement and
sustainability. In this current paper we primarily analyse the public perceptions of the role of TM in the health care
delivery system in Sekyere South District of Ashanti Region, Ghana.
2. Methodology
2.1 Study setting and sampling
The study was conducted between September, 2009 and May, 2010 in the Sekyere South District of Ashanti
Region, Ghana. The Sekyere South District is one of the 27 political and administrative districts in the Ashanti
Region with Agona as capital. The district spans a total area of 520km2 and forms approximately 3.27% of the total
landmass of the region. It is located in the north-eastern portion of Ashanti Region and shares boundaries with
Ejura-Sekyedumase to the North, Mampong Municipal to the East, Sekyere East and Kwabre to the south and
Offinso Municipal to the West. Specifically, the district lies between latitudes 60 50’N and 70 10’N and longitudes
10 40’N and 10 25’N. The predominant economic activity in the district is subsistence farming. There are over 38
communities with only 9 health facilities which are made up of 2 hospitals, 1 maternity home and 6 health centres.
Out of the 9 health facilities, the government owns 5 and the remaining 4 health facilities were established by
missions.
The district has an estimated population of 82 351 people with 51% rural (Sekyere South District Assembly, 2009).
The target population from which the sample was drawn was 5 619. A sample size of 120 was used. In all, 70
respondents representing the local people who had used the services of traditional health care providers, 30
Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMPs) and 20 Orthodox Medical Practitioners (OMPs) or health agency staff
(doctors, medical assistants, nurses, midwifes, pharmacists, etc) constituted the sample size of the study. The
various sub-samples were categorised based on their composition in the target population of the study. The
research communities were: Wiamoase, Agona, Jamasi, Asamang, Daban, Cannan, Asiribusu, Funifuni and Kona.
The overriding factors in their selection were the fair and adequate coverage of the district to ensure
representativeness of findings. The allocation of the respondents to the communities took to consideration the sizes
of their population.
2.2 Data collection tools and procedure
Both secondary and primary sources of data were considered in the course of the study. Records stored in various
forms at the health units, departments and agencies in the district (e.g. District Assembly, District Health
Administration, etc) were retrieved to assist in the record review in the course of the study. In addition, primary
data on practices of TMPs, interactions between the two medical systems, efficacy, safety, client, etc of TM were
collected by means of unstructured interview using open-ended and close response types of questions. The
effectiveness and safety of TM were entirely measured with the respondent’s responses and observation for
reasons of logistics.

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A descriptive cross-sectional study and a combination of sampling methods were employed to obtain information
from the respondents. Snowball technique was used to select the TMPs, simple random sampling was used to
select the clientele of TM and the OMPs were purposively selected from the target population. On reaching the
field, the sub-samples for each community were sub-divided to reflect the categories of the target population for
the purpose of interview. Twi (a local dialect of the study area) and English were used to administer the interviews.
The respondents and opinion leaders in each selected community were notified and briefed on the objectives of the
research and asked for permission before interview begun. The interviewees were assured of strict confidentiality
of the information they disclose. Each interview lasted for about 45 minutes. Detailed notes were taken and those
in Twi were then translated into English. Non-participant observation was also used to assess the working
environments or the sanitary conditions of the various traditional clinics, as hygiene was used to measure safety of
use of TM in this study.
2.3 Data analysis
Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were considered. The quantitative data were ordered, coded, edited
and entered into the computer and analysed using SPSS version 16.0 statistical software. The results of the study
were displayed by frequency distribution tabulations. The notes and transcripts obtained from the interviews, after
translated to English were presented. The major issues and the concerns of the respondents were edited and
presented through direct quotation techniques.
Ethical approval was obtained from the Department of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah
University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. Permission was also granted from Sekyere South District
administrative and health authorities, including traditional leaders in the district. Informed consent was obtained
from all participants prior to the research.
3. Results
The results of the study are organized into four dimensions: accessibility and usage of TM, common conditions
or diseases treated, perceptions on efficacy and safety of TM as well as the relationship existing between TM and
biomedical system. Within each category, sub-themes as to how the set objectives of the study were accomplished
are outlined.
3.1 Accessibility and utilisation of Traditional Medicine
In this study, accessibility is defined in connection with economic and physical parameters. That is how both
distance and financial constraints influence health care use.
3.1.1 Economic accessibility
Poverty is a strong barrier to the utilization of health care services. The study reports that certain aspects of the
TM are found to be cheaper and more readily available to the people than the orthodox medicine. Most people in
the Sekyere South District are poor, who live below US$1.25 a day, hence, find the orthodox medical care
relatively costly to access.
<Table 1>
Table 1 indicates that 58.6% users of traditional health care services claimed that traditional medical services are
“cheap” in comparable with the orthodox medical services. However, only 7.1% considered the service to be
‘‘expensive’’ relative to the orthodox medical services. TM is therefore the first point of call to many people in the
study area. This presupposes that most of the rural poor entirely rely on the TM for almost all their health care
needs.
3.1.2 Physical accessibility
The study has demonstrated that most of the settlements in the District are isolated, (especially the villages and
hamlets) and the distances from these settlements to the health centres are long enough. This distant decay reduces
the spatial interactions that should exist between these villages and the towns where health centres are located.
Patients from Asiribusu, Kyirenfa, Abankoro, Saasua and Kokoteasua have to cover over 25 kilometres on foot in
order to utilise the two health centres in Wiamoase. It was further observed that the roads linking these villages and
the few health centres were in very bad state which becomes completely not motorable in the rainy seasons. Few
drivers who risk and ply the roads charge exorbitant fares for short distances they cover. The following
quotations attest to this.
‘‘I’m very sick. I’m suffering from typhoid fever but we don’t have a health centre here in this village. I don’t also
have GHC 3 to pay in and out lorry fare to go to Wiamoase (a 7.4 km distance) to see the doctor. I always go to
herbalists who are with us here for herbal medicine’’

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‘‘Because of the high lorry fare, I sometimes prefer to walk to Bepoase (a distance of over 4.2 kilometres) to access
the health post, although the distance is very long. Most people, especially the aged forgo clinic attendance
altogether and resort to the immediate Traditional Medicines to manage their chronic and infectious diseases’’
‘‘Even if you have the money it is very risky to send a sick person all the way to Agona to see the doctor. His
condition might even be worsen in the process and die as a result. It is very sad’’.
3.2 Common medical conditions or diseases treated
TMPs interviewed in the course of the research were into four categories: Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs),
Traditional Doctors (Herbalists), Faith healers and Diviners. They treated various diseases and promoted health
using plant and plant products (e.g. leaves, bark, roots, trunk and flowers), prayers, holy water, Qur’an, Bible,
magic powers, animals and mineral substances. It was found that the healers treated various medical conditions.
<Table 2>
Most Traditional healers seem to be more specialised in conditions such as Malaria, Typhoid fever,
rheumatism/arthritis, broken bones/fracture, and piles in the Sekyere South District. Few TMPs were found to
engage in the treatment of such diseases as mental illness, HIV/AIDS, and heart attack. Looking at the different
illnesses treated, traditional healers seem to play an important role in primary health care.
3.3 Perceptions on efficacy and safety of Traditional Medicine
3.3.1 Perceptions on Safety of Clients at the Herbal Clinics
The hygienic and the sanitary conditions of the practice environs of the TMPs were used to measure safety of
patients at the herbal clinics. It was found that 37 (52.9%) of clients of TM and 15 (75%) of the OMPs claimed that
the use of TM is not safe as compared with the use of OM. However, only 12 (17.1%) and 1 (5.0%) of users and
OMPs respectively describe traditional medicinal usage as remarkably safe and totally out of harm’s way.
‘‘The TMPs operating in this community do not keep in and around their clinics clean. Also, a chunk of them
hardly wash their plant products and other substances before concoction, decoction and other preparations are
made. My father sustained serious infections soon after he had treated his typhoid fever with some herbal
preparations and nearly died out of it. To me, Traditional Medicines have curative power to deal with many
diseases, but most of them are not safe’’.
It was reported that the TMPs did not have standard and accurate dosage of medications. They prescribed
medicines based on “trial and error” method. In an interview, a nurse stated that:
‘’Most of the TMPs are illiterate and hardly, know the chemical composition of the herbs and other substances
they use. This could be dangerous and can be a threat to the health of their clients’’
3.3.2 Perceptions on Efficacy of Traditional Medicine
Table 3 illustrates the different views given by TM clients in relation to efficacy. 42 (60%) of clients and 11 (55%)
of the OMPs responded “very good” to the efficacy of TM while 23 clients; 6 OMPs and 5 clients; 3 OMPs
respectively said TM is ‘’good’’ and ‘’bad’’ in terms of efficacy. Some said they have used some aspect of TM and
the effect was positive by achieving the aims for which the medicine were used. However, very few cases were
reported concerning the medicine’s inability to cure their medical problems.
<Table 3>
The quotes that illustrate these points are below.
‘‘My husband was hit with cerebrovascular disease, that is, stroke for over ten years and couldn’t find treatment
after several visits to the modern hospitals. It took only the intervention of a traditional healer in Jamasi. Now, he
is physically fit and healthy and has started working. I believe that most of the TM are very effective’’
‘‘TM, the herbs in particular, are all that I rely on for all my ailments because they are potent to cure diseases
right from the blood once and for all’’.
3.4 Interactions between TMPs and OMPs
The study illustrated that there was no officially sanctioned referral system between traditional and orthodox
medical systems in the district. Almost all the referrals of patients occurred unofficially in an uncoordinated
manner. The study has revealed that OMPs refer fewer patients to the TMPs, than the reverse. Out of the 30 TMPs
involved in the study, 12 (40%) said they had referred patients to conventional hospitals. This was sharp a contrast
when it was found that 3 (15%) out of 20 OMPs had referred cases to traditional clinics. This involved diseases of
spiritual nature, broken bones, piles, rheumatism, boils, impotency, infertility, etc. In general, the degree of

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interaction between the OMPs and TMPs through referral cases is very low. This suggests that both practitioners
compete for the clients. This development negatively affects the government’s policy to integrate TM into the
health care delivery system of the country (MOH, 2002) and must be addressed before the attempt to achieve the
integration of medical systems in Ghana.
3.5 The integration of Traditional Medical Service into the National Health Service
It was found that the TMPs are prepared to join the mainstream health care system.
<Table 4>
Twenty nine (95.0%) of the 30 TMPs answered ‘yes’ when they were ask whether to fully integrate their services
into the biomedical system or not. This is really affirmative action. Also, 96.7% of TMPs were ready to go through
all the necessary training that would enhance their skills in health care delivery. It is important then for the OMPs
to recognise the TMPs as equally competent counterparts in the health system so as to envisage full integration of
TM into conventional medicine.
4. Discussion
This study has investigated the public perceptions of the role of TM in the health care delivery system in Sekyere
South District, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
A study on the Ghana health situation revealed that the primary cause of poor health facilities that affected
accessibility is functional to financial constraint (Twumasi, 1988; Buor, 2003). Sowa (2002) has expounded that
the declining hospital attendance in 1984 could be traced to the overall economic crises, but continued through
1986 due to the introduction and increase in hospital fees. The study has found that with the current financial and
economic strains, most people utilised and patronised the TM because of its relative cheapness. High income
earners attend hospital more often than low income earners which is consistent with previous studies (Buor, 2003;
Delanyo, 1992; Ensor and Pham-Bich-San, 1996; Pickett and Hanlon, 1990; Habib et al, 1986). TM is generally
affordable and therefore utilised mostly by the rural poor who cannot, perhaps afford the orthodox medical care. In
this regard, the necessary attention that TM practice deserves should be given. A directorate at the MOH has been
created for TM though, this is not enough. Sub-national structures should be provided at both the regional and the
district levels to oversee to the dispensation of traditional medical services (Buor, 1993). The government,
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders must therefore see the need to invest in research,
education, equipment and other infrastructure which will help make people accrue maximum benefit from TM.
The access to primary health care partly rests on physical distance and possible intervening obstacles (Buor, 2003a;
Mensah, 2003: unpublished doctoral thesis). Longer distances and travel times result in lower utilization of health
care (Buor, 2003). This study has shown that the TMPs both males and females were present in the district. Each
community surveyed had at least three (3) TMPs who were distributed evenly across the district to make their
services easily accessible to people. With TM, clients do not have to walk and cover long distances for their health
care needs as has been observed in other studies in Ghana and elsewhere (Buor, 1993; Okafor, 1990; 1984; Muller
et al, 1998). TMPs live and work among the people in the community. They therefore reserve a great deal of
confidence in the TMPs and their services. Most of the clients therefore do not take into account the safety,
quality and the standard of service of TM.
The study found that most of the TM offered to clients was perceived to be effective. This was evident in the
treatment of such conditions as boils, piles, broken bones/fractures, impotency, infertility, sexual weakness and
malaria, typhoid fever, mental disorder, hypertension, among others. Respondents claimed that as far as these
diseases are concerned, the TM is more effective than the OM as they responded favourably to the various
medicines used. Most respondents are psychologically comfortable with the use of the TM because they perceived
the system to be embedded in their own socio-cultural roots. This is in consonance with other studies (Peltzer et al,
2008; Buor, 1993; Twumasi, 1988). Necessary recognition must be given to the TMPs and their practices so as to
encourage them to put in much effort in the primary health care. However, the safety of use of TM is questionable.
Quite a number of TMPs practised under unhygienic conditions and environs which could develop further
infections to their clients and complicate their health problems. It is evident that the TMPs did not have a standard
and accurate dosage for medicines prescribed and described for clients, rather they resort to ‘‘trial and error’’
method for medicine administration (WHO, 2002). This pose serious challenge to acceptable and sound medical
practices envisage by the MOH for the citizenry. Stakeholders and the Ghana Health Service are to organize
regular training and education programmes for TMPs on the need to practise in uncontaminated environment. Also,
medical administration based on “trial and error” should be avoided to avert the consequence of over dosages and
under dosages of medications.

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The TMPs were managing almost every condition presented to them. They effectively treated such conditions as
arthritis/rheumatism, piles, infertility, malaria, typhoid fever, broken bone, boil and diseases of psychic nature
(Buor, 1993). It was envisaged that TM will never entirely disappear from the traditional society of the Sekyere
South District because it is potent and viable in treating most medical conditions presented by the patients. Much
effort should be offered by the government and the health sector to ensure total modernisation, standardisation and
improvement of TM so that better services could be rendered by the TMPs in the health care delivery as observed
by other studies (Yuri et al, 2007).
One of the most important mechanisms in any medical system which guarantees the safety of patients and assures
effective treatment of diseases is the ability of the system to ensure prompt referral of patients from one system to
another. No wonder, the Acting Director of TAMP, MOH stated that cross-referral of cases between the TMPs and
OMPs would improve health care delivery for people when he addressed the Fourth TM Week held at Koforidua
on September 6, 2003 (The Ghanaian Times, 2003). Any attempt to integrate traditional and orthodox medical
systems will see much difficulty, although over 96% of all TMPs surveyed shown interest. The rife of rivalry
between the two medical systems is a great bottleneck to undermine the process, as the collaboration between
OMPs and TMPs remained unofficial and in some instances non-existing. Only 12 (out of 30) TMPs and 3 (out of
20) OMPs had unofficially referred patients between themselves. Medical pluralism was practised among the
majority of health care users which vindicated other studies (Twumasi, 1988). There is therefore the need to have a
mechanism in place to properly coordinate the system. There should be a smooth and official referral mechanism
between the health care providers. Ghana Health Service Division (GHSD) must, as a matter of urgency, establish
a patient referral system between the OMPs and TMPs to protect, promote and enhance the health of clients. Full
integration of TM into the OM is needed. This will serve as a catalyst to achieving the long awaited goals of health
service delivery and the health for all policy as explicated in the Alma Ata Declaration and as well accelerate
efforts towards achieving the health related MDGs.
5. Limitations of the study
The research design adopted in this survey had some limitations that one way or the other influenced the findings.
The study used interviews and key informants as the main source of primary data and relied on participants’
self-report of historical events and perceptions to assess the role of TM. The issues with efficacy and safety of
TM use were measured with the respondents’ responses. No chemical or scientific tests were conducted due to
lack of logistics. This inevitably gave rise to the question of interviewer bias and social desirability bias being
presented. No statistical comparisons could be made because the study methodology was set as qualitative, and
the results are less accurate than they would have been, using quantitative data.
6. Conclusion
The role of TM is significant particularly in rural Ghana in the treatment of life-threatening and dreadful ailments.
TM is affordable, readily available, hence, easily accessible and therefore utilized as such. There are other complex
psycho-social and cultural factors associated with TM use. It is seen to be embedded in the personal values,
religious and health philosophies of people. The development of the system should not end up in political polemics.
Real, concrete and iterative action should follow the recognition of the contribution of TM to the health care of the
people.
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Table 1. Accessibility and Usage of Traditional Medicine

Economic Parameter n=70 %

Cheap 41 58.6

Moderate 24 34.3

Expensive 5 7.1

Table 2. Medical Conditions/Diseases treated by the TMPs

Medical Conditions/Diseases TMPs (N=30) %

Impotency/Infertility/Sexual Weakness 4 13.3

Malaria/Typhoid/Jaundice 5 16.7

Rheumatism/ Arthritis/Broken
5 16.7
bones/Fracture

Boil/ Pile 4 13.3

Menstrual Pains/STIs/HIV/AIDS 1 3.3

Convulsion/hypertension/ 2 6.7

Snake/Dog Bite/Cutlass Wound 4 13.3

Mental illness 1 3.3

Others 4 13.3

Table 3. Efficacy of Traditional Medicine

Category n %

User OMP User OMP

Bad 5 3 7.1 15.0

Good 23 6 32.9 30.0

Very Good 42 11 60.0 55.0

Table 4. Integrating Traditional Medicine into Biomedical System

Category n=30 %

Yes 29 96.7

No 1 3.3

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