African Molecular Biology (Core Life Science) | 22 March 2011
Integrating Traditional Medicine with Modern Healthcare Services in Ethiopian Rural Communities: A Socio-Epidemiological Study
Y, i, h, u, n, e, y, G, e, b, r, e, y, e, s, u, s, ,, G, e, b, r, u, A, s, s, e, f, a, ,, F, a, s, i, l, D, e, s, t, a, ,, T, e, k, a, l, i, g, n, A, b, e, b, a, w
Abstract
Traditional medicine plays a significant role in healthcare services across rural Ethiopian communities, alongside modern health care facilities. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including structured interviews, focus group discussions, and a socio-economic survey among households in 10 randomly selected villages. Findings indicate that approximately 65% of respondents used traditional medicine alongside modern healthcare services for chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. The integration study highlights the importance of traditional medicine in rural Ethiopian communities, suggesting a need to integrate it more effectively into existing healthcare systems. Healthcare authorities should develop strategies that recognise traditional medicine's role while improving access and quality of care for both traditional and modern practices. Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p<em>i)=\beta</em>0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.