Medical syncretism in the context of bone (fracture) Setting in Ghana: A descriptive qualitative study

This study proposes that culture influences health-seeking behaviour, worldviews, livedexperiences, and people's epistemologies. Thus, this study aims to interrogatethepractice of medical syncretism, a necessary health-seeking behaviour characterizedbypatients patronizing the hospital's services and Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs)to deal with their healthcare needs. This study, therefore, investigates howorthopaedicpatients shuffle between the hospital and traditional bone setters to seek care for theirfractures. The study's specific objectives include interrogating the nature of medical syncretism within the context of bone setting, understanding the factors that underpinthe practice of medical syncretism in fracture care, and the benefits of medical syncretism to primary healthcare in Ghana. It uses a qualitative approach, ethnographyand phenomenology. The study engages with medical syncretismin line withbonesetting, citing evidence from the Volta Region of Ghana. The study reveals that fear of amputation, surgeries, first aid, expertise, technology, good reviewprocesses, social support system, fast healing, and the use of herbs as the basis for medical syncretisminfracture care. The study concludes that collaborative efforts between orthopaedists andtraditional bone setters in fracture management, care, and treatment will ensuresustainable health development in Ghana.