整合现代医学与草药治疗疟疾：加纳正统医疗服务提供者的经验
Integrating modern and herbal medicines in controlling malaria: experiences of orthodox healthcare providers in Ghana.
作者信息
Ampomah Irene G, Ampomah Genevieve A, Emeto Theophilus I
机构信息
Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, UC 182, Ghana.
Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland , 4811, Australia.
出版信息
Arch Public Health. 2024 Dec 23;82(1):240. doi: 10.1186/s13690-024-01472-5.
BACKGROUND
In Ghana, the government has integrated herbal medicine into the formal healthcare system in response to widespread use of traditional remedies. However, empirical evidence supporting the contribution of integrated healthcare to malaria control remains limited. This study employed a phenomenological qualitative research design to explore the experiences of medical doctors and pharmacists from the coastal, forest and savannah regions of Ghana regarding the integration of modern and herbal medicine in the treatment and control of malaria. Donabedian's framework for evaluating the quality of healthcare served as the foundational theoretical framework for this research.
METHODS
Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews involving 26 participants and analysed using a framework analytical approach.
RESULTS
The findings revealed that inadequate political commitment to the practice of integration has led to several challenges, including the high cost of herbal anti-malaria medications, limited promotional activities surrounding integration, a shortage of qualified medical herbalists, inconsistent supply chains for herbal anti-malaria treatments, and a lack of standardisation in herbal medicine practices. Participants had divergent views regarding the impact of integration on malaria control; while medical doctors believed that the intervention has not significantly contributed to reducing malaria prevalence in Ghana, pharmacists viewed the presence of herbal clinics within government hospitals as an effective and sustainable alternative for treating malaria.
CONCLUSION
Reflecting on these results, it is imperative for policymakers to explore strategies that could enhance the effectiveness of an integrated health system, thereby increasing the contribution of herbal medicine towards achieving a malaria free nation. Future research could benefit from including policymakers, heads of health directorates, and community members, regarding the role of public health interventions in addressing health inequities in Ghana.
背景
在加纳，由于传统疗法广泛使用，政府已将草药医学纳入正规医疗体系。然而，支持综合医疗对疟疾控制贡献的实证证据仍然有限。本研究采用现象学定性研究设计，以探索加纳沿海、森林和草原地区的医生和药剂师在现代医学与草药医学结合用于疟疾治疗和控制方面的经验。多纳贝迪安的医疗保健质量评估框架是本研究的基础理论框架。
方法
通过对26名参与者进行个人深度访谈收集数据，并采用框架分析法进行分析。
结果
研究结果显示，对整合实践的政治承诺不足导致了若干挑战，包括草药抗疟药物成本高昂、围绕整合的推广活动有限、合格的医学草药师短缺、草药抗疟治疗的供应链不一致以及草药医学实践缺乏标准化。参与者对整合对疟疾控制的影响有不同看法；虽然医生认为该干预措施对加纳疟疾患病率的降低没有显著贡献，但药剂师认为政府医院内的草药诊所是治疗疟疾的有效且可持续的替代方案。
结论
反思这些结果，政策制定者必须探索能够提高综合卫生系统有效性的策略，从而增加草药医学对实现无疟疾国家的贡献。未来的研究可以纳入政策制定者、卫生部门负责人和社区成员，探讨公共卫生干预措施在解决加纳卫生不平等问题中的作用，从而从中受益。
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