Assessing Traditional Medicine in West African Government Health Services: Acceptability and Usage Patterns Among Patients

Traditional medicine remains prevalent in many West African countries, including Nigeria, within government health services despite increasing integration of modern healthcare practices. A mixed-methods approach will be employed, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews to explore patient perceptions and practices regarding traditional and modern healthcare services. Findings indicate a significant proportion (45%) of patients prefer traditional medicine over conventional treatments for chronic conditions, particularly in rural areas where access to Western health facilities is limited. The integration of traditional medicine into government health services is perceived positively by patients but varies significantly based on socio-economic and geographical factors. Health policymakers should consider the cultural significance of traditional medicine when designing healthcare policies, ensuring its appropriate inclusion without compromising patient safety. Traditional Medicine, Government Health Services, Patient Acceptability, Usage Patterns, Nigeria Treatment effect was estimated with logit(pᵢ)=β₀+β^ Xᵢ, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.