Abstract
AbstractAlthough the direct impact of health beliefs on unconventional medical therapies consumption are well documented, the previous empirical findings of the relationship have been much inconsistent and theoretically subtle in Ghana. Using social cognitive thesis, this paper examines how relative effects of personal health beliefs influence the use of traditional medicine in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Drawing on a qualitative approach involving rural and urban peculiarities and 36 in-depth interviews, this research study adopts a posteriori inductive reduction model to derive broad- and sub-themes. Results suggest that health-seeking behaviour in Ghana is a socially negotiated process in which cultural beliefs play a major role in moulding the use of unconventional therapies. Perceived displeasure and pure medicalisation of western medicine push individuals into traditional medicine use. Cultural norms and health beliefs in the form of personal philosophies, desire to be part of the healing process, ...
Highlights
The accumulated findings of a wide range of academic research on accessibility and utilisation of unconventional medicine in Ghana (Gyasi, Mensah, & Siaw, 2015; Kretchy, Owusu-Daaku, & Danquah, 2014) and beyond (Demirci & Altunay, 2014; Thomas, Nicholl, & Coleman, 2001) have indicated upsurge in consumption of traditional medicine (TRM) over the past decades with overt variations within and between national, regional and global levels
The findings generally focus on the constructed category of pull and push dimensions of TRM use as informed by belief systems
The study found an empirical evidence to suggest that cultural attitudes and personal health beliefs and traditions of people have strong and complex relationships with motivation for TRM acceptance which go beyond socio-demographic traits of people
Summary
The accumulated findings of a wide range of academic research on accessibility and utilisation of unconventional medicine in Ghana (Gyasi, Mensah, & Siaw, 2015; Kretchy, Owusu-Daaku, & Danquah, 2014) and beyond (Demirci & Altunay, 2014; Thomas, Nicholl, & Coleman, 2001) have indicated upsurge in consumption of traditional medicine (TRM) over the past decades with overt variations within and between national, regional and global levels. Other scholars agree, perceiving TRM as unconventionally and confusingly large and heterogeneous array of techniques, which exhibits both therapeutic and diagnostic approaches (Yeo et al, 2005) These diversities, approaches, practices and theories of medicine have permeated the sociocultural endeavours of people of Africa and Asia for well over hundreds of thousands of years (Johnson, 2013; WHO, 2011). In Ghana, traditional systems of medicine are recognised as an integral part of the sociocultural and traditional system where seven in every group of ten people access it for their primary health care needs (United Nations Development Programme [UNDP], 2007)
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