Bridging tradition and modernity: A systematic analysis of cultural beliefs, health practices, and the justification for integrative ethnomedicine in Africa

Resumo

This systematic review examines the intersection of indigenous ethnomedicine and Western biomedicine in Africa, exploring the cultural, spiritual, and pharmacological factors that shape the continent's "medical pluralism." While up to 80% of the African population relies on traditional medicine due to its cultural resonance and geographic accessibility, a significant "biomedical-cultural gap" persists, leading to fragmented care and public health risks such as adverse herb-drug interactions. Utilizing a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology and anchored in the Health Belief Model and Medical Pluralism Theory, the study identifies that health-seeking behavior is driven by a search for "ultimate" spiritual causes rather than mere biological symptoms. Furthermore, while pharmacological analysis validates the efficacy of secondary metabolites in indigenous flora, it highlights critical safety concerns regarding toxicity and lack of standardization, which can lead to potential health risks for patients if not properly addressed. The review concludes that a sustainable African healthcare strategy requires a transition from "biomedical elitism" to a culturally congruent, integrative model. Recommendations include the formalization of traditional healers into the primary healthcare chain, the development of national pharmacopoeias, and the institutionalization of rigorous quality control standards to harmonize ancestral wisdom with clinical safety.