Healers and the State of Medical Integration in Asante: A 21st Century Dialogue with Practitioners and Residents in Aboabo
Author:
Adu-Gyamfi S., Yakubu B., Nyaaba A.Y., Bempong E., Brobbey M.A.
Abstract:
This study looks into how traditional medicine is incorporated into the healthcare system in Asante, focusing on the Aboabo community. For many years, traditional healing methods that are ingrained in the area’s cultural legacy have been vital parts of its healthcare. Notwithstanding their importance, formal acknowledgement and incorporation into the mainstream healthcare system are frequently difficult to achieve for these practices. In-depth interviews with a wide range of participants, including locals, biomedical experts, and traditional healers, were conducted as part of this broad qualitative study. The results demonstrate the diverse functions of traditional healers, who, in addition to aiding in childbirth, attend to a broad range of conditions, from acute wounds to chronic illnesses. The community’s view of traditional medicine is clarified by this study, which highlights the confidence and dependence on these professionals. Significant obstacles to integration are also identified by the study, including enduring unfavorable opinions among biomedical professionals who frequently consider traditional techniques to be subpar. The absence of formal acknowledgement by state health authorities and weak regulatory frameworks further complicate the landscape of healthcare delivery. By examining these relationships, this study offers insightful information about the current discussion on healthcare in Ghana and promotes a more inclusive strategy that acknowledges the value of traditional medicine.
Keywords:
traditional healers, medical integration, traditional medicine, herbal medicine, primary healthcare, Aboabo community, Asante
DOI:
10.31132/2412-5717-2025-71-2-147-165
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For citation:
Adu-Gyamfi S., Yakubu B., Nyaaba A.Y., Bempong E., Brobbey M.A. (2025). Traditional Healers and the State of Medical Integration in Asante: A 21st Century Dialogue with Practitioners and Residents in Aboabo. Journal of the Institute for African Studies. Vol. 11. № 2. Pp. 147–165. https://doi.org/10.31132/2412-5717-2025-71-2-147-165
Для цитирования:
Аду-Гьямфи С., Якубу Б., Ньяаба А.Я., Бемпонг Э., Бробби М.А. Традиционная медицина в системе здравоохранения ашанти: мнение врачей и жителей Абоабо. Ученые записки Института Африки РАН. 2025. Т. 11. № 2. С. 147–165. https://doi.org/ 10.31132/2412-5717-2025-71-2-147-165
