Utilisation of and Attitude towards Traditional and Complementary Medicine among Ebola Survivors in Sierra Leone
<i>Background and objectives:</i> In addition to conventional healthcare, Ebola survivors are known to seek traditional and complementary healthcare (T&CM) options to meet their healthcare needs. However, little is known about the general beliefs of Ebola survivors regarding T&am...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/55/7/387 |
| _version_ | 1797728382411079680 |
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| author | Peter Bai James Jon Wardle Amie Steel Jon Adams |
| author_facet | Peter Bai James Jon Wardle Amie Steel Jon Adams |
| author_sort | Peter Bai James |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and objectives:</i> In addition to conventional healthcare, Ebola survivors are known to seek traditional and complementary healthcare (T&CM) options to meet their healthcare needs. However, little is known about the general beliefs of Ebola survivors regarding T&CM and the impact of these beliefs in influencing their decisions around T&CM use. This study examines Ebola survivors’ attitudes towards T&CM use in Sierra Leone. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> We conducted a nationwide quantitative cross-sectional study of 358 Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone between January and August 2018. We used descriptive analysis, chi-square tests and backward stepwise binary logistic regression for data analysis. <i>Results:</i> Close to half of the survivors (n = 163, 45.5%) had used T&CM since their discharge from an Ebola treatment centre. Survivors who viewed T&CM as boosting their immune system/resistance were 3.89 times (95%CI: 1.57−9.63, <i>p</i> = 0.003) more likely to use T&CM than those who did not view T&CM as boosting their immune system/resistance. Additionally, survivors who viewed T&CM as having fewer side effects than conventional medicine were more likely to use T&CM [OR = 5.03 (95%CI: 1.92−13.19, <i>p</i> = 0.001)]. Ebola survivors were more influenced to use T&CM based on their personal experience of the effectiveness of T&CM than by clinical evidence [OR = 13.72 (95%CI: 6.10−30.84, <i>P</i> < 0.001)]. Ebola survivors who perceived T&CM as providing them with more control than conventional medicine over their health/body were more likely to use T&CM [OR = 4.15 (95%CI: 1.74−9.89, <i>p</i> = 0.001)] as opposed to those who did not perceive T&CM in this way. <i>Conclusions:</i> Considering the widespread use of T&CM, an understanding of Ebola survivors’ attitudes/beliefs towards T&CM is useful to healthcare providers and policymakers with regard to public education and practitioner−survivors communication, T&CM regulation and research in Sierra Leone. Ebola survivors appear to turn to T&CM not only for treatment, but also to fill gaps in conventional health care services. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:13:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fb6f40aefd7249b6bcb1f6c0cc8aa079 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-660X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:13:09Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj.art-fb6f40aefd7249b6bcb1f6c0cc8aa0792023-09-02T02:31:35ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X2019-07-0155738710.3390/medicina55070387medicina55070387Utilisation of and Attitude towards Traditional and Complementary Medicine among Ebola Survivors in Sierra LeonePeter Bai James0Jon Wardle1Amie Steel2Jon Adams3Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Sydney 2007, AustraliaAustralian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Sydney 2007, AustraliaAustralian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Sydney 2007, AustraliaAustralian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Sydney 2007, Australia<i>Background and objectives:</i> In addition to conventional healthcare, Ebola survivors are known to seek traditional and complementary healthcare (T&CM) options to meet their healthcare needs. However, little is known about the general beliefs of Ebola survivors regarding T&CM and the impact of these beliefs in influencing their decisions around T&CM use. This study examines Ebola survivors’ attitudes towards T&CM use in Sierra Leone. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> We conducted a nationwide quantitative cross-sectional study of 358 Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone between January and August 2018. We used descriptive analysis, chi-square tests and backward stepwise binary logistic regression for data analysis. <i>Results:</i> Close to half of the survivors (n = 163, 45.5%) had used T&CM since their discharge from an Ebola treatment centre. Survivors who viewed T&CM as boosting their immune system/resistance were 3.89 times (95%CI: 1.57−9.63, <i>p</i> = 0.003) more likely to use T&CM than those who did not view T&CM as boosting their immune system/resistance. Additionally, survivors who viewed T&CM as having fewer side effects than conventional medicine were more likely to use T&CM [OR = 5.03 (95%CI: 1.92−13.19, <i>p</i> = 0.001)]. Ebola survivors were more influenced to use T&CM based on their personal experience of the effectiveness of T&CM than by clinical evidence [OR = 13.72 (95%CI: 6.10−30.84, <i>P</i> < 0.001)]. Ebola survivors who perceived T&CM as providing them with more control than conventional medicine over their health/body were more likely to use T&CM [OR = 4.15 (95%CI: 1.74−9.89, <i>p</i> = 0.001)] as opposed to those who did not perceive T&CM in this way. <i>Conclusions:</i> Considering the widespread use of T&CM, an understanding of Ebola survivors’ attitudes/beliefs towards T&CM is useful to healthcare providers and policymakers with regard to public education and practitioner−survivors communication, T&CM regulation and research in Sierra Leone. Ebola survivors appear to turn to T&CM not only for treatment, but also to fill gaps in conventional health care services.https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/55/7/387EbolaEbola survivorsattitudebeliefstraditional medicinecomplementary medicineSierra Leone |
| spellingShingle | Peter Bai James Jon Wardle Amie Steel Jon Adams Utilisation of and Attitude towards Traditional and Complementary Medicine among Ebola Survivors in Sierra Leone Medicina Ebola Ebola survivors attitude beliefs traditional medicine complementary medicine Sierra Leone |
| title | Utilisation of and Attitude towards Traditional and Complementary Medicine among Ebola Survivors in Sierra Leone |
| title_full | Utilisation of and Attitude towards Traditional and Complementary Medicine among Ebola Survivors in Sierra Leone |
| title_fullStr | Utilisation of and Attitude towards Traditional and Complementary Medicine among Ebola Survivors in Sierra Leone |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utilisation of and Attitude towards Traditional and Complementary Medicine among Ebola Survivors in Sierra Leone |
| title_short | Utilisation of and Attitude towards Traditional and Complementary Medicine among Ebola Survivors in Sierra Leone |
| title_sort | utilisation of and attitude towards traditional and complementary medicine among ebola survivors in sierra leone |
| topic | Ebola Ebola survivors attitude beliefs traditional medicine complementary medicine Sierra Leone |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/55/7/387 |
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