Wound Care: Traditional African Medicine Approach

Abstract

Wound care represents a major health burden in Africa. The types and causes of wounds in Africa are numerous; however, the interventions to these injuries are easily accessed in hospitals in the urban cities, while in most rural communities, the primary source of interventions is traditional medicine (TM). In recent times, there are incidences of preferences to the use of TM in the management of especially challenging wounds even when conventional interventions are available. In some African communities, there are incidences of quasi integration of conventional and traditional African medicine (TAM) in wound care. In the typical traditional African approach to wound care, diverse practices such as the use of herbal medicine, divination, and other physical interventions are common. There appears to be a favorable future for wound management using TAM with the increasing popularity due to various affirmative reasons other than poverty. The recognition, patronage, and uses of TAM for wound care as an alternative or complimentary to the conventional approach is expected to continue, hence, the need for the different regional governments in consonance with the WHO to promote the standardization, regulation, and other factors that will assure the safety and efficacy of the various practices and products of TAM.