Abstract:
Background Information: In addition to the health care provided by the health
facilities in developing countries, the population still largely depends on traditional
healing systems for majority of diseased conditions. Traditional medicine covers a wide
variety of therapies and practices which varies from country to country and region to
region It should be used rationally to get health benefits with minimized adverse effects
without delay in healing from poor knowledge, attitude, practice and management.
Objective: The study was conducted to assess the knowledge, Attitude, practice and
management of traditional medicine among the community of Shopa Bultum Kebele,
Arsi Negele, West Arsi Zone.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 151 sampled
individuals out of a total of 1113 population who lives in the community. Individuals
were interviewed by trained data collectors using structured questionnaire. Data was
checked for completeness, coded and analyzed manually, Association between different
variables was drawn and tested for significance by using chi-square.
Result: A total of 151 study populations were interviewed and (69.53%) had knowledge
on more than three types of traditional medicine. Most of the respondents (71.52%)
preferred traditional medicine for its affordability, accessibility and acceptability. The
most common traditional practice was medical herbalism (79.47%). some of the
respondents were (35.76%) prefer to keep their knowledge as a secret. (72.85%) of the
respondents manage their acute/ chronic illness by both self- medication and visiting
TMP.
Conclusion: The study has identified different types of traditional medicine and their
usage which may be important part of health care system if they are integrated to
modern heath care system after having further study results on their constituents. Source
of information on traditional medicine for most of respondents were family and
relatives
Recommendation: The concerned bodies and authorities of the community should
consider integration of the traditional system to modern health care system and
documentation of traditional medicine should be encouraged to preserve knowledge of
TM. In addition to this focus should be given to traditional medicinal plants use and
further research should be encouraged on the issue.
