627: Traditional Medicine for Neurological Disorders in SSA: Challenges and Clinical Integration

Topic: Education, Societal Impact, and Others
Subtopic: Education of pain care

Background and Aims: Neurological disorders and neuropathic pain contribute significantly to the disease burden in sub-Saharan Africa, where a substantial "treatment gap" persists. In this region, systemic challenges in conventional medicine (CM) and cultural beliefs have contributed to the widespread use of traditional medicine (TM). Data on TM and those who use it in the treatment of neurological disorders are scarce. Here, we systematically analyze its role as a therapeutic modality for the treatment of pathologies in Mali. We examine the sociodemographic characteristics of its users and propose next steps to optimize the dual use of TM and CM for patients with NT

Methods: We conducted a study using a two-phase questionnaire. In the first phase, patients with NeuP/NT answered questions about their use of and attitudes toward MT. In the second phase, MT therapists who treated patients in the first phase answered questions about their own practices for treating neurological disorders. Patients were recruited from the country's two university neurology departments.

Results: 3,534 of the 4,532 patients seen in the Departments of Neurology in 2019 met the inclusion criteria. An income greater than the minimum guaranteed salary was associated with decreased use of traditional medicine (OR 0.29, CI 0.25-0.35, p < 0.001). Among those using TM, it was overwhelmingly thought to be more effective than CM (84.6%). Linking illness to supernatural causes and believing TM therapists had a better understanding of illnesses were the most common reasons patients used traditional medicine (82.3% and 80.5%, respectively). We then interviewed 171 TM therapists who had provided care to the patients in phase one.

Conclusions: Our work shows that TM plays a central role in the provision of care for patients with ND in SSA with certain cohorts using it at higher rates. Future development of treatment of ND in SSA will require optimizing TM with CM and needs buy-in from all stakeholders including conventional medicine clinicians, traditional medicine therapists, researchers, politicians, and most importantly, patients. Future research should prioritise clinical trials on the most promising traditional candidates to ensure safety and efficacy.

References: Maiga Y. Assessing traditional medicine in the treatment of neurological disorders in Mali: prelude to efficient collaboration. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2024 Oct 3;24(1):352.

Maiga Y. Neuropathic pain in Mali: The current situation, comprehensive hypothesis, which therapeutic strategy for Africa? eNeurologicalSci 2021;22:100312.

Presenting Author: Maiga Y
Submitting Author: Youssoufa MAIGA

Senior Author: Nizard J

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: Yes

• Leon Samuel Moskatel - Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA USA.
• Seybou H Diallo - Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
• Salimata Diallo - Neuroscience and Medical Genetics Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
• Mariam Daou - Neuroscience and Medical Genetics Research and Training Center, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
• Adama Sissoko - Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
• Robert Cowan - Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA USA.
• Julien Nizard: PhD - Faculty of Medicine, University of Nantes, Nantes, France