An Information System Model for Integrating Knowledge of Uganda Herbal Medicine

Abstract

With health being a priority to all, knowledge on different varieties of herbal medicine is important.  This study examines indigenous herbal medicine in Uganda to facilitate the development of a web-based information system model through which knowledge can shared. The research design involved an experimental approach to design and test the information system model and a descriptive qualitative design to collect qualitative data about herbal medicine and the diseases they cure. The study was conducted in the Buwama sub-county, Mpigi district, Uganda, where traditional medicine is widely used in primary health care. The target population was fifty (50) practicing traditional medicine trainees, and purposive sampling was used to select respondents. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and reviewed existing documents about different kinds of herbal medicine. An architectural framework for the web-based information system model was designed using entity-relationship diagrams that represent data flows, inputs, and outputs of the system. The findings of this study show that integration of traditional medicine into modern healthcare systems in Uganda is possible and is appreciated by most health care practitioner. The developed information system model can contribute to improving the accessibility and use of indigenous herbal medicine, promoting their recognition and validation, and ensuring their safe and effective use. The study findings show that a web-based information system model is a promising approach to support the documentation, sharing, and management of indigenous herbal medicine in Uganda.

Keywords: Herbal Medicine, System Model, Traditional Medicine, Indigenous Medicine, Web-Based System

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/108-02

Publication date:May 31^st 2023