Senbeta Mamo Feyissa, Fenta Teferi Gedif, Asres Kaleab, Gebremariam Tsige
Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia.
Department of Pharmaceutics and Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 12;15(1):25235. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-04223-w.
Patients with chronic diseases like HIV and TB often seek treatment from both traditional and biomedicine healthcare providers. Collaboration with traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) has been advocated by UNAIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa and was promising in some countries. However, no formal collaboration has been established in Ethiopia, and the perspectives of healthcare professionals (HCPs) on such collaboration remain unexplored. In this study, descriptive qualitative design was used to explore HCPs' experiences and perspectives on collaborating with TMPs in HIV and tuberculosis care in Metekel Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. HCPs working directly in HIV and TB clinics in five health facilities were purposively included. Data were collected between March 5 and April 30, 2022, through in-depth interviews using semi-structured questionnaires. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, inductively coded, and thematically analyzed using MAXQDA 2020. The study included 25 key informant HCPs. They reported varied experiences with TMPs, including no interaction, occasional informal social interactions, and rare cases of informal referrals. While some HCPs expressed skepticism about the efficacy and safety of TMP practices, most acknowledged potential benefits if TMPs were limited to managing minor conditions and opportunistic infections. The major reported challenges to collaboration were unstandardized herbal practices, the secrecy of TMPs, differing treatment philosophies, the absence of legal frameworks, and logistical barriers. To establish collaboration, informants recommended legal frameworks, registering genuine healers, protecting intellectual property, organizing regular forums for TMP engagement, fostering research partnerships, and providing financial and tailored training programs for both groups. In conclusion, this study revealed HCPs had mixed experiences and perspectives on collaboration with TMPs in Metekel Zone. While some informants recognize the potential benefits of collaboration, others remain skeptical about role of TMPs. Therefore, strong government support, clear legal and research frameworks, and trainings and mutual understanding were recommended to foster collaboration.
像感染艾滋病毒和患结核病这类慢性病患者常常会向传统医疗服务提供者和生物医学医疗服务提供者双方寻求治疗。联合国艾滋病规划署在撒哈拉以南非洲倡导与传统医学从业者(TMPs)开展合作,并且在一些国家取得了成效。然而,埃塞俄比亚尚未建立正式的合作关系,医疗保健专业人员(HCPs)对于此类合作的看法仍未得到探究。在本研究中,采用描述性定性设计来探究埃塞俄比亚西北部梅泰凯尔地区医疗保健专业人员在艾滋病毒和结核病护理方面与传统医学从业者合作的经历和看法。有目的地纳入了在五个医疗机构的艾滋病毒和结核病诊所直接工作的医疗保健专业人员。2022年3月5日至4月30日期间,通过使用半结构化问卷进行深入访谈收集数据。访谈进行了录音,逐字转录,进行归纳编码,并使用MAXQDA 2020进行主题分析。该研究纳入了25名关键信息提供者医疗保健专业人员。他们报告了与传统医学从业者的不同经历,包括没有互动、偶尔的非正式社交互动以及罕见的非正式转诊情况。虽然一些医疗保健专业人员对传统医学从业者的做法的疗效和安全性表示怀疑,但大多数人承认,如果传统医学从业者仅限于处理轻微病症和机会性感染,可能会带来益处。报告的合作主要挑战包括草药做法不规范、传统医学从业者的保密行为、不同的治疗理念、缺乏法律框架以及后勤障碍。为了建立合作关系,信息提供者建议建立法律框架、登记真正的治疗师、保护知识产权、组织传统医学从业者参与的定期论坛、促进研究伙伴关系,并为双方提供资金和量身定制的培训项目。总之,本研究揭示了梅泰凯尔地区医疗保健专业人员在与传统医学从业者合作方面有着复杂的经历和看法。虽然一些信息提供者认识到合作的潜在益处,但其他人对传统医学从业者的作用仍持怀疑态度。因此,建议政府大力支持、建立明确的法律和研究框架以及开展培训和相互理解,以促进合作。