THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL BONE SETTING IN PRIMARY FRACTURE CARE IN THE UPPER WEST REGION: THE CASES OF JONGA, GWOLLU AND DOUNG BONE-SETTING CENTRES

Abstract

For majority of people in rural areas, traditional bone setting is the first port of call as well as last resort if orthodox medicine fails. However, traditional bone setting has not been given its due recognition. For instance it is ignored in reports on the state of Ghanaian medicine. Also, some allopathic practitioners contend that traditional bonesetters do try and error and thus are without skills. This study examined the role of traditional bone setting in primary health care in the Upper West Region. The study, located in three Bone Centres in three districts within the Upper West Region adopted a mixed methods research approach. The study adopted a multi-stage purposive sampling technique. In the first stage, a typical case sampling technique was used to select the Bone-setting Centres. In the second stage, intensity sampling technique was used to select heads of bonesetters for indepth discussions. All patients undergoing treatment at the centres were interviewed. At the institutional level, intensity sampling technique was used to recruit directors and other stakeholders of health care in the Upper West Region. Findings of the study are presented and analysed by cases in the first stage. In the second stage cross-cases analysis is presented, drawing out similarities and contrasting findings among the three cases. Findings of the study include: people from all walks of life and all parts of the country rely on the services of the traditional bonesetters for orthopaedic health care needs; spirituality plays a seminal role, yet in varying degree in the collection of materials, treatment and healing processes of patients; and finally all bonesetters interviewed opposed any moves to integrate traditional bone setting into the primary health care system. This study therefore concludes that albeit criticisms from allopathic practitioners, TBS is highly patronised by the populace and thus contributes greatly to fracture care in the Upper West Region. Thus this study disagrees that the populace should be discouraged from the patronage of traditional bone setting. The study recommends sensitising and training of bonesetters by formal health care institutions as well as integrating traditional bone setting into primary health care systems for culturally acceptable health care service delivery.