Traditional Moroccan Medicine: Study of the Influence of Traditional Medicine Practices on the Health Status of Patients at Mohammed VI University Hospital in Marrakesh
Abstract
Context: Moroccan traditional medicine, imbued with cultural heritage, is a discipline that provides significant care in Morocco (economic and cultural aspects, but with risks related to the toxicity of phytotherapies and the absence of regulation). The primary objective of this research is to study its impact on the health of hospitalized patients at Mohammed VI University Hospital Center in Marrakesh across five specialized hospital departments and to propose methods for secure integration into the modern healthcare system.
Methodology: This descriptive and correlational research focused only on 130 hospitalized patients in various departments of the CHU, using a structured questionnaire for sociodemographic data and perceptions, and semi-directive interviews for the qualitative aspect. The quantitative component used statistical tests (χ², Pearson correlation) and thematic analysis of qualitative data.
Results: The largest part of the sample consists of young women (55% in the age group between 20 and 30 years with little or no work income (53% < 300) resorting to traditional medicine with a very high frequency in 70% of cases, mainly for digestive disorders in 23.9%, then joint disorders in 14.1%, resorting to self-medication, that is, by 79% of patients without consulting any doctor. Among the significant correlations, we note age (r = 0.226 for p = 0.005) and pediatric use (r = 0.297 for p < 0.01), testifying to strong cultural adherence in the latter case.
Discussion: The results highlight the economic and cultural issue of traditional medicine by weighing the risks of toxicity and self-medication while expanding on previous studies conducted in Morocco and Vietnam, which have an impact on the status of traditional medicine. Patients' representations converge in their ambivalent aspect and encourage them to call for regulation, similar to that proposed by the WHO, despite the imperfect methodology (brief data collection period, non-publication of results at the local level).
Conclusion: Integration of traditional medicine into the healthcare system is necessary, through the development of a legislative framework, establishment of quality standards, and agreements between traditional doctors and those of modern medicine, allowing to combine safety and effectiveness of care while preserving the Moroccan therapeutic heritage. This work opens future research avenues, towards possible applications on health policies.
Keywords: Medicine, Traditional, Practices, Toxicity, Plants, Health