抄録
Purpose : This study aimed to clarify the utilization behaviors in health care of healthcare workers and to show the factors affecting on their decision to use modern or traditional medicine.
Methods : The subjects of this study were 11 healthcare workers from five African Francophone countries. Their utilization behaviors in health care when the subjects had become ill in the previous one-year period were studied by questionnaire and interview and the data were analyzed qualitatively and inductively.
Results : Thirty labels and ten categories were extracted as the factors influencing the decision on choosing the modern medical institution or traditional one. The ten categories were summarized in three major category groups : “Expectations for safer and more effective treatment for a disease condition”, “Sense of values derived from the profession” and “View to the economy and convenience in current living environment”. The images of traditional medicine were negative for nearly all subjects regardless of their experience in using the traditional medicine or not.
Conclusion : In order to create a sustainable healthcare system in developing countries, involving traditional healers or treatment methods is a notable discussion point. The results suggested a need to improve the recognition for traditional medicine in healthcare workers having a modern medical background.
