Abstract:
Health care utilization in many developing countries, Tanzania included, is
mainly through the use of traditional medicine (TRM) and its practitioners
despite the presence of the conventional medicine. This article presents findings
on the study that aimed to get an experience of health care utilization from both
urban and rural areas of seven administrative regions in Tanzania. A total of 33
health facility managers were interviewed on health care provision and
availability of supplies including drugs, in their respective areas. The findings
revealed that the health facilities were overburden with higher population to
serve than it was planned. Consequently essential drugs and other health supplies
were available only in the first two weeks of the month. Conventional health
practitioners considered traditional health practitioners to be more competent in
mental health management, and overall, they were considered to handle more
HIV/AIDS cases knowingly or unknowingly due to shear need of healthcare by this
group. In general conventional health practitioners were positive towards
traditional medicine utilization; and some of them admitted using traditional
medicines. Traditional medicines like other medical health systems worldwide have
side effects and some contentious ethical issues that need serious consideration
and policy direction. Since many people will continue using
traditional/alternative medicine, there is an urgent need to collaborate with
traditional/alternative health practitioners through the institutionalization of
basic training including hygiene in order to improved healthcare in the community
and attain the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
