Women’s experiences with traditional medicine for the treatment of cervical cancer: a qualitative study

Background: Over 60% of patients with cancer in sub-Saharan Africa used traditional medicine for cancer treatment. The common predictors of traditional medicine use include being a female. 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: One overarching theme emerged with six (6) corresponding sub-themes. 1. Traditional treatment for cervical cancer (subthemes: treatment without a diagnosis, herbal medicine for cervical cancer, prayer for healing cervical cancer, insertion of substances into the vagina as treatment for cervical cancer, cost of traditional treatment, and traditional treatment outcomes). Conclusion: 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 or traditional medicine practitioners without a definite diagnosis and consulted pastors in prayer camps after their cervical cancer diagnosis for healing prayers. These findings have implications for cervical cancer treatment and patient safety in Ghana.