Perceptions, Attitudes, and Practices of Tanzanian University Communities Regarding the Use and Formalization of Traditional Medicine
Wilfrida Adolfu Kimario, Frida Richard Mgonja, James Richard Mushi, Gaymary George Bakari, Benigni Alfred Temba
European Journal of Medicinal Plants · pp. 52–62 · Published 18 Jul 2023
10.9734/ejmp/2023/v34i61144Abstract
Introduction: Traditional medicines (TMs) play a vital role in the public healthcare system of Tanzania and other sub-Saharan countries. The community has been advocating for greater recognition and formalization of this sector. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the community's knowledge and views on formalization to maximize the beneficial use of TMs in Tanzania. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the university community, involving a total of 458 students and staff from three major public universities in Tanzania. Participants were interviewed regarding their history, knowledge, and inclination towards using TMs. They were also asked about their opinions on community involvement and the necessity of strengthening the formalization of education and usage in this field. Results: The results revealed that 84.7% of the participants had utilized TMs, with 71.6% currently using them and 16.8% using them on a regular basis. Furthermore, 30.5% of the participants agreed that the community is aware of the importance of TMs, while 18.8% believed that the community receives adequate education regarding their significance. Additionally, 33.6% indicated that the government recognizes and promotes the importance of TMs. The study also found strong community support for introducing TM practitioners who can attend to patients and provide TMs. There was also strong support for formalizing education on TMs within the Tanzanian education system. Conclusion: The study's findings underscore the significance of recognizing and leveraging traditional medications to improve public health and preserve the benefits of local knowledge.
References (23)
- 1 Home visits: a strategy to improve newborn survival - Authors' reply [DOI]
- 2 The Traditional Medicine and Modern Medicine from Natural Products [DOI]
- 3 Physical activity, exercise, and chronic diseases: A brief review [DOI]
- 4 Traditional Medicines in Africa: An Appraisal of Ten Potent African Medicinal Plants [DOI]
- 5 A Public Health Agenda for Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine [DOI]
- 6 Therapeutic Applications of Herbal Medicines for Cancer Patients [DOI]
- 7 Current Status of Herbal Medicines in Chronic Liver Disease Therapy: The Biological Effects, Molecular Targets and Future Prospects [DOI]
- 8 Medicinal Plants Used in Traditional Management of Cancer in Uganda: A Review of Ethnobotanical Surveys, Phytochemistry, and Anticancer Studies [DOI]
- 9 Why Urban Citizens in Developing Countries Use Traditional Medicines: The Case of Suriname [DOI]
- 10 Identification of medicinal plants for the treatment of kidney and urinary stones [DOI]
- 11 Tanzania's position on the COVID-19 pandemic [DOI]
- 12 Miracles of Herbal Phytomedicines in Treatment of Skin Disorders: Natural Healthcare Perspective [DOI]
- 13 Traditional Medicine Practice in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic: Community Claim in Jimma Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia [DOI]
- 14 Knowledge, attitude, practice, and management of traditional medicine among people of Burka Jato Kebele, West Ethiopia [DOI]
- 15 Herbal medicine for treatment and prevention of liver diseases [DOI]
- 16 The Use of Traditional Herbal Medicines Amongst South Asian Diasporic Communities in the UK [DOI]
- 17 Ethnobotanical Review and Dataset Compiling on Wild and Cultivated Plants Traditionally Used as Medicinal Remedies in Italy [DOI]
- 18 Use of Traditional Medicines to Fight COVID-19 during the South African Nationwide Lockdown: A Prevalence Study among University Students and Academic Staff [DOI]
- 19 Perception, usage and knowledge of herbal medicines by students and academic staff of University of Nigeria: A survey [DOI]
- 20 A review on medicinal plants for peptic ulcer
- 21 Therapeutic Approaches in Management of Drug-induced Hepatotoxicity [DOI]
- 22 Predictors of the Use of Traditional Medicines in the Universal Health Coverage System in Indonesia [DOI]
- 23 Protests in India: doctors condemn police violence and restrictions on hospital access [DOI]
Cited by 2
Pensia Elias Mapunda, Rosemary Peter Mramba · Discover Social Science and Health · 2025
Showing 1 of 2 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.
Related research
- Knowledge, Perception and Practice of Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness among Pregnant Women Attending a Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Sokoto, Nigeria — shares topic coverage
- Knowledge, Perception and Misconceptions on Family Planning among Women Living in an Urban Slum in Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria — shares topic coverage
- User’s Perception and Satisfaction with Services Provided under National Health Insurance Scheme: A Case Study of Academic Staff of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto — shares topic coverage
- Perception, Awareness and Treatment Experiences about Onchocerciasis in a Rural Community in Cross River State, Nigeria: Implications for Control — shares topic coverage
- Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions about Mental Illness in Ekom Iman Community in Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
56
Page views
0
PDF downloads
14
Outbound clicks
2
Citations
Views over time
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.