Maternal and child health in an ethnomedical perspective: traditional and modern medicine in coastal Kenya

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Abstract
This paper presents the results of an operational research project on traditional medicine in the context of a primary health care (PHC) programme in coastal Kenya. Data were collected on health services utilization patterns and traditional medicine through a variety of methods: interviews with traditional healers and traditional birth attendants (TBAs), workshops with traditional healers and a longitudinal study of child health. High levels of utilization of both modern and traditional medical services were observed for child illnesses. In most cases, traditional and modern medical services were complementary, although some areas of conflict persisted, despite the changes of ideas observed in the traditional sector. The potential and problems associated with increasing collaboration with TBAs and traditional healers specialized in maternal and child health were explored. Large-scale training of TBAs and traditional healers did not appear to be feasible or desirable. However, to focus on the leading traditional practitioners may be a very worth while exercise in the PHC programme. The implications for health policy and planning regarding incorporation of traditional medical practitioners into PHC programmes are discussed.

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