Conference abstract
Traditional medicine in health-seeking behavior among hospitalized patients in a Cameroon District Hospital
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2023:18(110).03
Oct 2023.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2023.18.110.2218
Archived on: 03 Oct 2023
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Traditional medicine, health seeking behavior, population
Oral presentation
Traditional medicine in health-seeking behavior among hospitalized patients in a Cameroon District Hospital
Tchingue Mbianda Carine1,&, Tchio-Nighie Ketina Hirma1,2, Murhabazi Bashombwa Augustin1, Tchindebe Bouri Ela1, Buh Nkum Collins2, Ateudjieu Jerome1,2
1Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon, 2Meilleur Accès Santé, Yaoundé, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: traditional medicine is an important source of care for the population, but its use, benefit, and safety are poorly documented. This study aims to assess the place of traditional medicine in the health-seeking behavior of hospitalized patients.
Methods: it was a cross-sectional descriptive study to collect patient’s seeking behavior before and during hospitalization, to record patients’ itineraries, and to assess the determinants of traditional medicine used before hospitalization. Data were collected using a face-to-face questionnaire administered to consenting patients hospitalized in four units of the Dschang District Hospital (DDH) from March to May 2022.
Results: out of the 271 responding participants, 175(64.6%) practiced self-medication among which 74(27.3%) used drugs from the home pharmacy, 66(24.3%) traditional products, 58(21.4%) medicine purchased in pharmacies and 18(6.6%) purchased in markets. Before the consultation, 77(28.4%) sought care at the pharmacy and 35(12.8%) from a traditional practitioner. The sources of care sought during hospitalization were: traditional practitioner (1([3.7%)) and a relative (17(6.3%)). The choosing type of care before the hospitalization was not affected by the presenting symptoms and confidence was the main reason for choosing traditional medicine before hospitalization.
Conclusion: traditional medicine is used as self-medication by 1/4 of patients needing care in the community and is part of health-seeking behavior in communities and during hospitalization. There is a need to investigate its benefit, and safety to plan for its inclusion by health authorities as part of the package of care delivered to populations.
Traditional medicine in health-seeking behavior among hospitalized patients in a Cameroon District Hospital
Tchingue Mbianda Carine1,&, Tchio-Nighie Ketina Hirma1,2, Murhabazi Bashombwa Augustin1, Tchindebe Bouri Ela1, Buh Nkum Collins2, Ateudjieu Jerome1,2
1Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon, 2Meilleur Accès Santé, Yaoundé, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: traditional medicine is an important source of care for the population, but its use, benefit, and safety are poorly documented. This study aims to assess the place of traditional medicine in the health-seeking behavior of hospitalized patients.
Methods: it was a cross-sectional descriptive study to collect patient’s seeking behavior before and during hospitalization, to record patients’ itineraries, and to assess the determinants of traditional medicine used before hospitalization. Data were collected using a face-to-face questionnaire administered to consenting patients hospitalized in four units of the Dschang District Hospital (DDH) from March to May 2022.
Results: out of the 271 responding participants, 175(64.6%) practiced self-medication among which 74(27.3%) used drugs from the home pharmacy, 66(24.3%) traditional products, 58(21.4%) medicine purchased in pharmacies and 18(6.6%) purchased in markets. Before the consultation, 77(28.4%) sought care at the pharmacy and 35(12.8%) from a traditional practitioner. The sources of care sought during hospitalization were: traditional practitioner (1([3.7%)) and a relative (17(6.3%)). The choosing type of care before the hospitalization was not affected by the presenting symptoms and confidence was the main reason for choosing traditional medicine before hospitalization.
Conclusion: traditional medicine is used as self-medication by 1/4 of patients needing care in the community and is part of health-seeking behavior in communities and during hospitalization. There is a need to investigate its benefit, and safety to plan for its inclusion by health authorities as part of the package of care delivered to populations.
