A Case Study of Complementary Alternative Medicines in Primary Healthcare in Ghana

Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research ◽

10.9734/jocamr/2021/v15i130256 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 23-33

Author(s):

Raphael Nyarkotey Obu ◽

Lawrencia Aggrey–Bluwey

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Alternative Medicine ◽

Medical Practice ◽

Primary Healthcare ◽

Public Health System ◽

Healthcare Delivery ◽

Complementary Alternative Medicine ◽

Alternative Medicines

Background: The embryonic field of complementary alternative medicine in Ghana is gradually taking shape. Alternative medicine in Ghana is an important system of medical practice with legislation currently pending for promulgation. Objectives: To support this embryonic industry for potential role into our primary healthcare and public health system, there is a need for robust health care policy in the area of standardization coupled with strong political willpower and research in Ghana. The aim of this case study is to reflect the role of complementary alternative medicine in primary healthcare in Ghana. Methods: The study incorporates a mixed method engaged in integrated data analysis to investigate the challenges of practitioners of complementary alternative medicines as primary healthcare givers. Additionally, it evaluates the pull factors that drive consumers to complementary alternative remedies from the perspectives of the practitioners and finally, to evaluate the opinions of practitioners on consumers’ push factors from mainstream medicine using Ghana as a case model. Results: This study demonstrates that there is a role of complementary alternative medicine in primary healthcare delivery as well as the public health system. However, there are multifactorial challenges in the sector as respondents outlined lack of standardization, disunity and mistrust between complementary alternative medicine and mainstream medical practice. Some of these opposing forces prevent recognition of these remedies into the national healthcare delivery system. Conclusion: While our findings demonstrate that there is a role of complementary alternative medicines in our public health and primary healthcare in Ghana, we recommend collaboration between complementary alternative and conventional medical practitioners for improvement of quality of life the consumers. We are of the view that, unhealthy competition between the two medical systems should be controlled.

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A Mixed Questionnaire Study on Prayer as Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Ghana

Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research ◽

10.9734/jocamr/2021/v16i430309 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 196-208

Author(s):

Raphael Nyarkotey Obu ◽

Lawrencia Aggrey-Bluwey

Keyword(s):

Alternative Medicine ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽

Primary Healthcare ◽

Healthcare Delivery ◽

Complementary Alternative Medicine ◽

Naturopathic Medicine ◽

Medical Centers ◽

Integral Role ◽

The Impact ◽

Complementary And Alternative

Background: Prayer is paramount in the spiritual welfare and development of an individual. Interestingly, prayer is also considered as a form of complementary alternative medicine and is employed in primary healthcare delivery. Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of prayer in primary healthcare delivery as a form of complementary healthcare. This study also investigates why patients opt for prayer as an alternative to standard medical care and ultimately to review the scientific aspect of prayer in medicine. Methods: The study incorporates a mixed methods study with integrated data analysis. The respondents in this study were selected practitioners of Naturopathic Medicine with pastoral background, who belong to the Association of Naturopathic Medicine Practitioners in Ghana. Results: Patients and complementary and alternative medicine practitioners alike in Ghana believe that prayer is very important to aid recovery and hence, plays an integral role as complementary medicine in healthcare. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that there is a role of prayer as complementary alternative medicine in primary healthcare delivery. We therefore hold the view that, pastors at the prayer camps should be well educated in basic medical sciences to enable an effective referral pathway to the standard medical centers.

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Willingness of Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm.) students to be custodians of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM): case study of Kenyatta University, Nairobi

Journal of Pharmacy & Bioresources ◽

10.4314/jpb.v18i1.8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 53-63

Author(s):

Ikoni Ogaji ◽

Jackson Lubayo ◽

Fullaila O. Aliyu

Keyword(s):

Alternative Medicine ◽

Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽

Healthcare System ◽

Healthcare Delivery ◽

Pharmacy Students ◽

Traditional Medicines ◽

African Health ◽

Complementary And Alternative

Appropriate training on standardization of quality characteristics of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices has the potential to pave way for integrative and collaborative healthcare delivery in African health facilities. The purpose of this study was to understand how willing pharmacy students are to taking on the custody of CAM, especially provision of expertise services on traditional medicines. A questionnaire on the willingness of Bachelor of Pharmacy students to be trained and certified as CAM experts in an integrated health system was administered to one hundred and nineteen (119) pharmacy students of Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya. Ninety-four respondents (78.99 %) were excited to be trained on CAM and become experts on CAM alongside orthodox but not solely on CAM. Majority of the respondents acknowledged the important role of CAM in the nation’s healthcare delivery systembut were not ready to be trained solely as such without the commitments of governments for better status. The study revealed that with necessary support from governments and stakeholders, specialists from those desiring to study pharmacy can be developed to focus on safety, purity and efficacy of CAM, especially traditional medicines, to enhance their incorporation into the national healthcare system. Keywords: Pharmacy students; CAM; Experts; Integrative healthcare system

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Naturopathic Medicine and Public Health Management in Ghana; A Mixed Questionnaire Study

Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research ◽

10.9734/jocamr/2021/v15i130257 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 34-50

Author(s):

Raphael Nyarkotey Obu ◽

Lawrencia Aggrey-Bluwey

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Medical Students ◽

Primary Healthcare ◽

Health Management ◽

Healthcare Delivery ◽

National Policy ◽

Naturopathic Medicine ◽

Stage Of Development ◽

Public Health Management

Background: Naturopathic medicine is at its embryonic stage of development in Ghana and West Africa in entirety. In jurisdictions where Naturopathic medicine is well regulated, Naturopathic practitioners are well integrated into the primary healthcare delivery team. In Ghana, the case is quite different due to a myriad of issues. Objectives: This study examines the role of Naturopathic medicine in Public Health in Ghana and potential policy direction for adoption of Naturopathic protocols in global pandemic management, the challenges faced by Naturopathic Physicians in primary healthcare delivery, and the challenges of Naturopathic Medical Students on their clerkship at one of the designated government Hospitals. Methods: The study adopted a mixed questionnaires study engaged in integrated data analysis. The respondents in this study were selected Naturopathic Medical Students of the Nyarkotey College of Holistic Medicine, Ghana. Results: Out of a sample size of 28, 100% (28) believed that, there is a role of Naturopathic medicine in public health management. 95% asserted that very little naturopathic remedies have been employed in the fight against Covid-19 in Ghana. There was also a unanimous agreement (100%) that Ghana needs to adopt a National Policy on Naturopathic remedies in Public Health. Conclusion: Naturopathic medicine should be embraced fully into Ghanaian primary healthcare delivery. It is important to look at the best practices which exist in other jurisdictions such as China and India for adoption. It is time for the policy makers to speed up the passage of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine bill.

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Moving Faster than the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Rapid, Digital Transformation of a Public Health System

Applied Clinical Informatics ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1725186 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (02) ◽

pp. 229-236

Author(s):

Clair Sullivan ◽

Ides Wong ◽

Emily Adams ◽

Magid Fahim ◽

Jon Fraser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health System ◽

Public Health System ◽

Digital Transformation ◽

Contact Tracing ◽

Programming Approach ◽

Data Governance ◽

Application Development ◽

Containment Strategy

Abstract Background Queensland, Australia has been successful in containing the COVID-19 pandemic. Underpinning that response has been a highly effective virus containment strategy which relies on identification, isolation, and contact tracing of cases. The dramatic emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic rendered traditional paper-based systems for managing contact tracing no longer fit for purpose. A rapid digital transformation of the public health contact tracing system occurred to support this effort. Objectives The objectives of the digital transformation were to shift legacy systems (paper or standalone electronic systems) to a digitally enabled public health system, where data are centered around the consumer rather than isolated databases. The objective of this paper is to outline this case study and detail the lessons learnt to inform and give confidence to others contemplating digitization of public health systems in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This case study is set in Queensland, Australia. Universal health care is available. A multidisciplinary team was established consisting of clinical informaticians, developers, data strategists, and health information managers. An agile “pair-programming” approach was undertaken to application development and extensive change efforts were made to maximize adoption of the new digital workflows. Data governance and flows were changed to support rapid management of the pandemic. Results The digital coronavirus application (DCOVA) is a web-based application that securely captures information about people required to quarantine and creates a multiagency secure database to support a successful containment strategy. Conclusion Most of the literature surrounding digital transformation allows time for significant consultation, which was simply not possible under crisis conditions. Our observation is that staff was willing to adopt new digital systems because the reason for change (the COVID-19 pandemic) was clearly pressing. This case study highlights just how critical a unified purpose, is to successful, rapid digital transformation.

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Aiming for Health Equity: The role of Public Health Policy and Primary Healthcare Comment on "Universal Health Coverage for Non-Communicable Diseases and Health Equity: Lessons From Australian Primary Healthcare"

International Journal of Health Policy and Management ◽

10.34172/ijhpm.2021.112 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bo Burström

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Social Determinants Of Health ◽

Healthcare System ◽

Health Equity ◽

Social Determinants ◽

Primary Healthcare ◽

Communicable Diseases ◽

Determinants Of Health ◽

Non Communicable Diseases

This commentary refers to the article by Fisher et al on lessons from Australian primary healthcare (PHC), which highlights the role of PHC to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and promote health equity. This commentary discusses important elements and features when aiming for health equity, including going beyond the healthcare system and focusing on the social determinants of health in public health policies, in PHC and in the healthcare system as a whole, to reduce NCDs. A wider biopsychosocial view on health is needed, recognizing the importance of social determinants of health, and inequalities in health. Public funding and universal access to care are important prerequisites, but regulation is needed to ensure equitable access in practice. An example of a PHC reform in Sweden indicates that introducing market solutions in a publicly funded PHC system may not benefit those with greater needs and may reduce the impact of PHC on population health.

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