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.