Indigenous Knowledge Systems: A Survey of Stakeholders’ Views towards the Combined Use of Traditional and Modern Medicine on Hospitalized Patients
Keywords:
health professionals, hospitalized patients, traditional healers, Questionnaires, interview guideAbstract
This research sought stakeholders’ views toward the combined use of traditional
and modern medicine on hospitalized patients. The research contributes towards indigenous
knowledge systems in Zimbabwe. The research is a survey carried out at Chinhoyi
Provincial Hospital. Questionnaires and an interview guide were used. The respondents
were doctors, nurses, patients and relatives of the hospitalised patients. Data was presented
in frequency distribution tables. The findings revealed that traditional medicine was being
used on hospitalized patients. Health professionals, patients and their relatives strongly
believe that traditional medicine cures. The research findings led to the following
recommendations; patients and relatives should be educated on the complications
associated with combined use of traditional and modern medicine on hospitalized patients,
and policy makers need to facilitate dialogue between the Ministry of Health and Child
Welfare, health professionals and traditional healers to map the way forward on integration
of modern and traditional medicine. There is need of a further study to establish traditional
healers’ views on the integration of traditional and modern medicine to compliment
findings of this study.
References
Akinsola, H. Y. (1983). Behavioural Science for Nurses. London.Churchill Livingstone.
Aquina, M. (1967). The people of the spirit: An independent church in Rhodesia, Africa:
Journal of the International Africa Institute. Vol. 37, pp 203 – 219.
Boundillan. M, (1987). The Shona Peoples. Gweru. Mambo Press.
Borgdan R. and Biklen, S. (1994). Qualitative Research Methods 2nd Ed. London. Allan
and Bacon
Bell, J. (1999). Doing your research project:Aguide for First Time Researchers in
Education and Social Science.Buckingham.Open University Press
Brooker C and Waugh A.(2007). Foundations of Nursing Practice. Edinburgh, Mosby
Elsevier
Chavhunduka I. G. (1982).Traditional Medicine in modern Zimbabwe. Harare, University
of Zimbabwe Publications.
Chavhunduka, L (1978).Traditional healers and the Shona Patient. Gweru. Mambo Press.
Chavhunduka. G.I. (1994).Traditional Medicine in Modern Zimbabwe. Harare, University
of Zimbabwe Publications.
Chavhunduka L. (1986). The Professionalisation of African Medicine. Manchester
University press in Association with the International African Institute.
Chitsike I, (1994). “Organo-Phosphate poisoning at Harare Central Hospital, Paediatric
Intensive Care Unit’ Central African Journal of Medicine Vol 40, No 11 pp 315 –
Co-operation.
Cohen, L. and Manion, L. (1994). Research Methods in Education. New York:Routledge.
Curationis (1991): Traditional and Modern medicine working in tandem: Social Science
Medicine 14(4): 10:13.
Fong H.H, (2002). Integration of Herbal Medicine into modern medical practices: Issues
and prospects 1 : 287 – 93.
Gelfand M, Drummond, R.B and Ndemera B, (1993).The Traditional Medical Practitioner
in Zimbabwe. Gweru Mambo press.
Giddens, A. (1993). Sociology. 2
nd Edition, Oxford, Blackwell Publishers.
Giger J.N and Davidhizar, R.E (2008). Transcultural Nursing: Assessment and Intervention
th Edition ,St. Louis, Mosby Elsevier.
Helwig D, (2001) Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Gale Group.
Hollard K. and Hogg C, (2001), Cultural awareness in Nursing and Health Care.
Hui K.K. (1999) Botanical Medicine: Efficacy, Quality Assurance and Regulation, New
York Mary Ann Liebert.
Katzung ,B.G, (2004). Basic and Clinical Pharmacology 9th Edition Boston, Mcgraw Hill.
Kazembe T and Mashoko D. 2009. “Should Traditional medical practiced in Chivi,
Zimbabwe be included in School Curricula” Zimbabwe Journal of Education Vol,
pp 49 – 69.
Kazembe T. (2010) “Traditional Religion should be included in School Curriculum”
Zimbabwe Journal of Education , Vol 22, No 1 pp 61 – 81.
Khan, S. M (2004). Educational Research. New Delhii: Ashish Publishing.
Kozier. B, Erb. G and Blais. K, (1997). Professional Nursing: Practice, Concepts and
Perspectives, Menlo Park, Addison Wesley.
Leinger, M.M (1993). Towards conceptualization of Transcultural Health Care System”;
concepts and Model Journal of Transcultural Nursing, Vol. 4, pp 32 –
,Livingstone.
Mbiti J.S, (1969). African Religious and Philosophy. London; Heinemann.
McMillan H. and Scheinman D. (2000) “Using Herbs’: AIDS Action Southern Africa.
Issue 46 pp 5.
Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, (1986). Zimbabwe Health for All: Action Plan.
Harare, Government of Zimbabwe.
Muller, M. (1996). Nursing Dynamics. Sandton. Heinemann.
Muller, M. and Balangizi I (2004). “Traditional and Modern Medicine:” The need for cooperation Congo.
Negussie, B. (1988). Traditional Wisdom and Modern Development: A case study of
elderly Women in Southern.
O’Sullivan C. (2004). Reshaping Herbal medicine: Knowledge Education and Professional
Culture. Toronto, Appleton.
Potter P.A. and Potter A.G (2001) Fundamentals of Nursing, St. Louis, Mosby.
Samson, C. (1999). Health Studies. Oxford, Blackwell
Sandiga I, etal, (1995). Traditional Medicine in Africa. Nairobi Educational publishers Ltd.
Shaik. B.T. and Hatcher J. (2005). “Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Pakistani:
Prospects and Limitations. Oxford Journals. Evidence based complementary and
Alternative Medicine. Vol 2 No. 2 pp 139 – 142.
Shrivastana A.K. (2006). Medicinal Plants. New Delhi, APH Publishing
Sindiga, J. (1995). Traditional Medicine in Africa. Nairobi. English Press Ltd.
World Health Organization (2000). Guidelines for Assessment of Herbal Medicines.
Geneva, WHO.
