Integration of Traditional Medicine into Ghanaian Primary Healthcare Systems in Zimbabwe: A Pilot Study

Traditional medicine remains an integral part of healthcare systems in many African countries, including Ghana. However, its integration into primary healthcare delivery systems has not been extensively explored across borders. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including qualitative interviews with healthcare providers and focus group discussions among community members to evaluate TM utilization and perceptions. Data analysis revealed that approximately 40% of surveyed healthcare facilities reported incorporating TM practices into their service delivery models, primarily in the form of complementary therapies such as herbal remedies and traditional massage. Community support for TM integration was generally positive, with a notable theme of increased patient satisfaction due to perceived effectiveness in managing common ailments. The pilot study demonstrated initial success in integrating TM into primary healthcare settings but highlighted challenges related to regulatory frameworks and standardization of practices. Further research is recommended to validate these findings and explore the long-term sustainability of such integration strategies. Policy recommendations should focus on harmonizing TM with conventional medical systems and ensuring quality control measures are in place. Treatment effect was estimated with logit(pᵢ)=β₀+β^ Xᵢ, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.