Abstract
Background: Over 60% of patients with cancer in sub-Saharan Africa used traditional medicine for cancer treatment (Alegbeleye et al., 2020, Mwaka et al., 2020). The common predictors of traditional medicine use include being a female (Kristoffersen et al., 2022, Aboufaras et al., 2023). However, there is limited empirical information about the experiences of women with traditional medicine usage for the treatment of cervical cancer. The current study explored the experiences of women who used traditional medicine for the treatment of cervical cancer in Accra, Ghana.
Methods: An exploratory qualitative research design was used in this study. A semi-structured interview guide was used to interview 12 women to gain insight into their experiences with traditional medicine for cervical cancer treatment. The data collected were analyzed using content analysis in which major themes and subthemes were generated. These findings were supported with verbatim quotes from the participants.
Results: Women with signs and symptoms of cervical cancer consulted herbalists first for treatment. The herbalists treated the women based on presenting signs and symptoms without a definitive diagnosis. The main types of traditional medicine the women used include herbal medicine in the form of sap (extracted from herbs, roots, leaves, and flowers) through the process of boiling, insertion of substances (i.e., “balm”, and penicillin ointment) into the vagina, and prayers from pastors as a treatment for cervical cancer. The routes through which the herbal medicine was administered to effect healing of cervical cancer include oral (drinking the sap), skin (bathing with the sap), and vagina orifice (douching and insertion).
Notes
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Theta Epsilon
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Traditional Medicine, Complementary Health Practices, Cancer Treatment, Cervical Cancer, Africa
Recommended Citation
Asakitogum, David; Aziato, Lydia; and Ohene, Lillian Akorfa, "Women’s Experiences With Traditional Medicine for Treatment of Cervical Cancer: A Qualitative Study" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 111.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/111
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-11-27
Women’s Experiences With Traditional Medicine for Treatment of Cervical Cancer: A Qualitative Study
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Background: Over 60% of patients with cancer in sub-Saharan Africa used traditional medicine for cancer treatment (Alegbeleye et al., 2020, Mwaka et al., 2020). The common predictors of traditional medicine use include being a female (Kristoffersen et al., 2022, Aboufaras et al., 2023). However, there is limited empirical information about the experiences of women with traditional medicine usage for the treatment of cervical cancer. The current study explored the experiences of women who used traditional medicine for the treatment of cervical cancer in Accra, Ghana.
Methods: An exploratory qualitative research design was used in this study. A semi-structured interview guide was used to interview 12 women to gain insight into their experiences with traditional medicine for cervical cancer treatment. The data collected were analyzed using content analysis in which major themes and subthemes were generated. These findings were supported with verbatim quotes from the participants.
Results: Women with signs and symptoms of cervical cancer consulted herbalists first for treatment. The herbalists treated the women based on presenting signs and symptoms without a definitive diagnosis. The main types of traditional medicine the women used include herbal medicine in the form of sap (extracted from herbs, roots, leaves, and flowers) through the process of boiling, insertion of substances (i.e., “balm”, and penicillin ointment) into the vagina, and prayers from pastors as a treatment for cervical cancer. The routes through which the herbal medicine was administered to effect healing of cervical cancer include oral (drinking the sap), skin (bathing with the sap), and vagina orifice (douching and insertion).
Description
Women used herbal preparations, prayers, and insertion of substances into the vagina for the treatment of signs and symptoms of cervical cancer. The women received herbal prescriptions from herbalists without a definite diagnosis and contacted pastors in prayer camps after their cervical cancer diagnosis for healing prayers. The findings have implications for development of cervical cancer education program targeting healthcare providers, herbalists, pastors, and traditional opinion leaders.