Integration and utilization of traditional medicine in child healthcare to achieve universal health coverage: Caregivers perspectives

Introduction: The integration of traditional medicine into healthcare can be a significant option in contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and 2030 agenda of “leaving no one behind”, particularly concerning achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Traditional medicine still forms the backbone of rural health care, supporting an estimated 80–90% of the population and evidence show that if UHC is to be achieved, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), traditional health practitioners should be incorporated into the healthcare systems. The study sought to explore the utilisation and integration of traditional medicine into child healthcare from the perspectives of children’s caregivers. Methods: A cross-sectional research study was conducted by administering questionnaires to caregivers of children admitted into the general paediatric wards of Ola During Children’s Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Results: The majority of participants (71.0%) expressed their common usage of traditional medicines in the care of children, and a similar proportion (83.2%) favoured its integration into the conventional health systems. The absence of a scientific foundation for traditional healthcare practices was however cited as a barrier to integrating both healthcare systems. Conclusion: In achieving the integration of traditional medicine into the conventional health systems, scientific evaluation and certification of traditional medicines should be provided to foster easy collaboration and integration.