Perceptions, practices, and predictors of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicines: A survey of healthcare professionals in Gondar City, northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction

Traditional medicine (TM) is described as the totality of practices, emanating from indigenous cultures, for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases as well as promotion of health. The literature exploring the views and experiences of healthcare professionals toward traditional complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) in Ethiopia is limited. Thus, this study aimed to assess the perceptions, and practices toward TCIM and associated factors among healthcare professionals in Gondar City, northwestern Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and April 2019 among healthcare professionals at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital and health centers in the city using self-administered questionnaires. A total of 348 healthcare professionals were included in the study. Respondents were selected through convenience sampling by approaching those available at the institutions at the time of data collection. The data was analyzed descriptively to summarize the perceptions and practices of healthcare professionals toward TCIM. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of perceptions and practices toward TCIM.

Results

Among the 348 respondents, 64.9 % were female while 68.1 % were under 30 years of age. More than two-thirds (69.2 %) of the respondents believed that TCIM has useful elements. A large majority (81.6 %) of the respondents also reported that TCIM has its downsides in terms of accuracy of diagnosis and side effects. Of the respondents, 71.0 % reported that they/their families had used TCIM in the past. The majority of the respondents also expressed positive views toward cooperation (84.8 %) with TCIM and its integration (90.2 %) into modern medical practice. Among socio-demographic characteristics, doctors/health officers and pharmacists were more than 3 times more likely than nurses to have positive views of TCIM. Profession (lower likelihood among health extension workers) and education (lower likelihood among those with MD/MSc than those with a diploma level) were also associated with past use of TCIM among respondents/families.

Conclusion

The study showed that the majority of healthcare professionals in the study had positive views on the usefulness of TCIM and had used it in their families. Collaborative work between healthcare professionals and TCIM practitioners is recommended for better healthcare.