African Traditional Medicine (Pharmaceutical aspects) | 27 March 2005
Monthly Treatment Outcomes in Community-Based Traditional Medicine for Malaria Prevention in Northern Somali Region, Gambia: An Intervention Study
M, a, m, u, d, o, u, B, a, h, ,, A, b, d, o, u, l, K, a, r, i, m, S, i, l, l, a, h, ,, F, a, t, i, h, a, S, y, l, l, a, ,, S, a, b, r, i, n, a, N, j, i, e
Abstract
Malaria remains a significant public health concern in northern parts of sub-Saharan Africa, including the Gambia. Traditional medicine is widely used as a complementary or primary strategy for malaria prevention and treatment. Participants received monthly doses of herbal remedies administered by trained traditional healers. Data were collected on treatment outcomes, including symptom relief and adverse effects over a period of one year. A total of 325 participants reported significant improvements in malaria symptoms with no severe adverse events observed within the first six months of treatment. The traditional medicine approach was effective in reducing malaria incidence without serious side effects, supporting its continued use as a community-based intervention strategy. Further studies should include larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods to confirm these findings and explore potential mechanisms of action. 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.