Investigation of the Knowledge of Traditional Medicine Policy by Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) of Nasarawa State, Nigeria: A Pilot Study

Aim: The effective implementation of traditional medicine policy has been recommended by the World Health Organisation as a way of addressing some of the challenges facing Traditional Medicine practise in many countries. This study was aimed at investigating the knowledge of Traditional Medicine Practioners in Nassarawa State, about Nigeria’s Traditional Medicine Policy and other issues of concern towards provision of evidence based information to support the promotion of the traditional medicine practise and its integration into national health care delivery system.

Study Methodology, Place and Duration: Pre - tested study questionnaire and consent forms were employed. Familiarization visits to the selected study sites to introduce the study to the community to have their buy in and understand their cultural norms carried out. Administration of questionnaire, data collation and analysis were later done. The study was conducted at Lafia and Keffi, both in Nasarawa state in June 2013.

Results: The result indicated 38% of respondents were aware of the existence of the Traditional Medicine Policy document while 59% were not. 43% of those aware did not know the content of the policy, while 57% had a faint idea of what the policy was about. On adverse drug reaction, 58% of respondents got feedback from their patients while 38% did not with only 17% of the TMPs referred patients with adverse drug reaction to hospital. However, none of the TMPs reported the reactions to the national regulatory agency with 70% not registering their products with the regulatory agency as required by the policy. Many areas of the policy requiring attention of the TMPs were not been implemented.

Conclusion: There is need for greater awareness of the existence of the policy for improved implementations while the document which is due for review needs the input of the practitioners during the review process.