Al Ameen Journal of Medical Sciences (Apr 2015)
Patients preference for traditional bonesetters in Northern Ghana
Abstract
Background: Traditional Bone Setter (TBS) practice is the most common form of musculo–skeletal injuries management in the Northern part of Ghana despites reports of severe complications associated with the practice. The aim of the study was to elicit factors that influence patient’s preference for TBS. Method: This was a facility–based descriptive study involving a Specialist orthopaedic hospital (Tania Specialist Orthopaedic Hospital, Tamale) and a Traditional Bone Setting centre in Loagri. A total of 80 respondents; 51 (63.7%) males and 29 (36.3%) females aged between 7 and 70 years were involved in the study. The socio-demographic profile of the patients, type of injuries and the anatomical part involve, reasons for TBS patronage, duration of TBS treatment, and outcome of treatment were studied. Results: Out of the 80 patients involved in this study, majority (63.7%) were males with majority (45.0%) of the patients falling between the age of 21 years to 30 years. Most of these patients had no formal education (43.8%) and were unemployed (23.8%) but were registered with the National Insurance Scheme (70.0%). Superstitious beliefs was the most common reason for the continue patronage of TBS services (37.5%) follow by affordability of medical cost (31.3%). Other reasons were the belief that TBS treatment is natural and heal fast (12.5%), easy accessibility (7.5%), fear of amputation (6.3%), and advice of relatives/ friends 5.0%. These reasons however had no significant correlation to the educational status, age, marital status, religious affiliation and the employment status of the patients. A significant number of these patients (75.0%) had reported first to orthodox medical facilities before discharging themselves against medical advice for TBS management. Conclusion: The high patronage of TBS in Northern Ghana despites the reported high complications associated with it is influence by superstitious beliefs and high cost of orthopaedic medical care.
