ArticleInternational journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being2023
Medical pluralism, healthcare utilization and patient wellbeing: The case of Akan cancer patients in Ghana.
Article in International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- Article
- Perspectives on the formalisation of complementary and alternative medicine among current users with prostate cancer: a study at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2026Article
- Stroke patients and caregivers' experiences and satisfaction with post-discharge self-management support in Ghana: A qualitative study.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- Traditional Health Practitioners-Initiated HIV Testing and Counselling: Perspectives from Health Care Workers, Healers and Clients in Rural South Africa.AIDS and behavior · 2025Article
- Spiritual needs, practices and associated factors among patients with cancer at two teaching hospitals.African journal of primary health care & family medicine · 2025Observational
- Care-seeking for difficulties conceiving in sub-Saharan Africa: findings from population-based surveys in eight geographies.Human reproduction (Oxford, England) · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeAs cancers increase in Ghana and in many low-and middle-income countries, healthcare utilization has become critical for disease management and patients' wellbeing. There is evidence that medical pluralism is common among cancer patients in Ghana and many other African countries, which results in lack of adherence to and absconding from hospital treatments. The objective of this study was to examine ways in which beliefs in disease causation influence medical pluralism among Akan cancer patients in Ghana.
methodsA qualitative research approach was employed in this study. In-depth interviews were conducted for thirty (30) cancer patients who were purposively recruited from Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Thematic content analysis was used in analysing data.
resultsOur findings revealed that cancer patients ascribed both physical and spiritual causality to their illness. As such, they combined orthodox treatment with spiritual healing and herbal medicine. Regarding the order of therapeutic search, patients reported to herbal and spiritual centres before going to the hospital, a phenomenon which contributes to the late reporting and diagnosis as well as bad prognosis of cancers in Ghana.
conclusionThe findings of this research elucidate the relationship between culture and health care choices of cancer patients in Ghana. Increased awareness creation is crucial in eradicating myths surrounding cancers in Ghana.
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