UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Of Traditional Health Practitioners towards

Intellectual Property in Gondar and Debark Town Amhara, Ethiopia .

BY: Gelila Degu …………………….chs/ur116610/09

Amanawit Tamirat…………….chs/ur116527/09
AUGUST 24
Advisor: Mr. Abyot

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 Outline
 Introduction
 Objective
 Subjects and methods
 Result
 Discussion
 Limitation
 Conclusion
 Recommendation
 Reference
 Acknowledgement
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1.Introduction
1.1 Background
Traditional medicines play an important role in the provision of health care in many
developing countries. Their use is also significant in developed countries.(3)

Intellectual property may be in the form of knowledge, information, concepts, or

other ‘matters of the mind’ which, in the absence of disclosure or access there to, is
neither known nor obvious to others.(5)

In Ethiopia, over 70% of the people depend on traditional medicines (TMs) for their
healthcare, and more than 95% of the preparations are made from plant origin.

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 Cont….
Traditional healers' knowledge in livestock can be protected through appropriate sui
generis intellectual property rights with high consideration of customary law(4).

At the moment, the mechanisms about intellectual property rights are not able to
protect traditional knowledge and indigenous peoples(5).

Different types of IPR have been developed (7).

• The most well-known are patents and copyrights

• Other elements which are included in most IPR laws are trade secrets and
trademarks

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 1.2 Statement of the problem

Traditional medicine has the capacity to provide novel inputs into the drug development

process.(8)

The immense benefit of traditional medicinal knowledge in the pharmaceutical drug

development has given rise to bio prospecting as well as its illegal counterpart – bio piracy.

The rise in cases of bio piracy is making traditional knowledge holders in developing

countries very nervous and uncomfortable. (8)

Their fear is related to historical trend of expropriation without compensation. (8)

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 Cont…
In addition to that there is a wrong belief that intellectual property rights should be
applied to traditional medicinal knowledge in order to preserve and promote their
commercial exploitation. (8)

But IPR such as patent does not primarily guarantee the commercial exploitation of
knowledge and it’s primary purpose is to exclude others from the knowledge. (8)

Assessing the knowledge and attitude of traditional practitioners about intellectual

property protection of traditional medicine knowledge is fundamental in the
development of traditional medicine knowledge protection in Ethiopia. (10)

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 1.3 Significance of the study

The study hopes to have important contributions.

• It will serve as an input to further research in the area.

• The findings and recommendations of the study will serve as a stepping stone for

further review of knowledge and attitude of intellectual property protection among

traditional practitioners in Ethiopia.

• The finding of the study will serve as a guideline to create awareness about legal

intellectual property protection in Ethiopia.

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2.Objective
2.1 General objective

To evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of traditional health practitioners
towards intellectual property Protection of Traditional Medicine in Gondar town and
Debark town, Amhara, Ethiopia.

2.2. Specific objective

To investigate the KAP towards IPR Protection of Traditional Medicine among THP in
Gondar town

To identify factors associated with IPR

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 3.Subjects and Methods
Method Description
Study area and period The study was conducted in Gondar city and Debark town
located in Amhara regional state
from March- August 2022
Study design A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted
from June 2022 up to August 2022
Source Population TMP in Gondar and Debark town

Study population All THP in Gondar and Debark town who are older than 18
years old
Inclusion All adult traditional health practitioners (>18 years of age) in
Gondar and debark town who were willing to be included in
the study.
Exclusion Traditional health practitioners who lives and practices out of
Gondar and Debark town.
Sample size and sampling technique We used non-probability sampling. All THP’s who are willing
to and give consent were interviewed.
Dependent variable knowledge, attitude, and utilization of the community on
traditional medicines.
Independent variable Age of interviewee, educational status, religion, occupation,
04/09/2024 monthly family income. 9
 4.Result
4.1. Socio-demographic characteristics of study participants

A total of 24 respondents participated in the study of which majority (52.4%) of them

are between 30 and 40 years of age.

 83.3% are orthodox Christian.

Most of the practitioners educational level is from 5-8th grade (33.3%).

14(58.3%) has an average monthly income with in the range of 1000 and 5000 birr.

11(45.8%) got their knowledge from religious organizations.

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Sex 1. Male 17 (70.8)
2. Female 7 (29.2)

Age 1. 30-40 13 (54.2%)

2. 41-51 7 (29.2%)
3. 52-60 4 (16.7%)

Religion 1. Muslim 3 (12.5%)

2. Orthodox 20 (83.3%)
3. Protestant 1 (4.2%)

Educational level 1. 5 to 8th grade 8 (33.3%)

2. 9th to 10th grade 6(25%)
3. From 1 through 4th grade 6 (25.0%)
4. From 11 to 12th 1(4.2%)
5. I have learned The religious teaching 1(4.2%)
6. I haven't learned anything
2(8.3%)

Average monthly income 1. 1000-5000 14(58.3%)

2. 5000-10000 10(41.7%)

Where do you find the knowledge and skills 1. From family members 10(41.7%)
of your cultural treatment 2. from religious organization 11(45.8%)
3. From the God 3(12.5%)

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 4.2. Mode of practice and modality of knowledge transfer

Majority of the participants performs traditional medicine as a fulltime job (79.2%)

Plants are the major sources of their medicine (91.7%).

More than half of the participants were registered practitioners (54.2%)

95.8% of them agreed that the effectiveness and side-effects of traditional medicine
should be measured and 75% of them recorded the patent’s history.

majority of the participants (70.8%) took training related to traditional medicine in the
last five years and 20.8% of them wanted to take any training related to their practice.

 Among those who took the training, more than two thirds (66.7%) found very
important for their current practice.
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 4.3. Knowledge about Intellectual property right

More than two third of the participants (66.7) know what intellectual property right is
and the remaining (33.3%) have never heard of it.

The once they could understand well were, patent right holder (25%), Copyright
(25%), Trademark (66.7%), access and benefit share (4.2%), Contractual Agreement
(4.2%).

(6.5%) of them think intellectual property right have additional benefit to their work.

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 4.4. Practice towards Intellectual Property

Majority of the practitioners (54.2%) have registered their innovation by IP office.

- Trade mark (50%)

- Utility model (4.2%)

More than half (58.3%) of the participants have been trained about intellectual
property rights and the majority found very useful (58.3%).

Mistrust, unsuitable policy, lack of knowledge regarding IP are among the major
reasons mentioned by participants for not applying for IP.

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 4.5 Attitude towards Intellectual property

Participants were asked about the perception of IP and 75% of them want to apply for IP.

87.5% of the respondents think that Traditional Medicine Associations, modern research
centres and similar organization benefit them for achieving intellectual property right.

Majority of the practitioners (58.3%) think that the country's innovative policy supports
the current traditional application of cultural treatment.

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 P About intellectual property rights

Have you ever heard about 1. no 8(33.3%)

intellectual property rights before? 2. yes 16(66.7)

which of the following do you 1. Patent right holder 6(25%)

understand well?(answer more 2. Copyright 6(25%)
than one) 16(66.7%)
3. Trademark
1(4,2%)
4. access and benefit share

5. Contractual Agreement
1(4.2%)

Do you think intellectual property 1. No 9(37.5%)

right have additional benefit to 2. Yes 15(62.5%)
your work
Have You registered your 1. No 11(45.8%)
knowledge to the concerned body 2. Yes 13(54.2%)
If your answer is yes to the 1. Utility model 1(4.2%)
previous question, which one of the 2. Trademark 12(50%)
following patents have registered?
Have you ever been trained about 1. No 10(41.7%)
intellectual property right 2. Yes 14(58.3%)

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Does the authority IP ever supported you 1. No 16(66.7%)
on how intellectual property right should 2. yes 8(33.3%)
work?

Do you think that traditional medicine 1. No 3(12.5%)

associations, modern research centers and 2. Yes 21(87.5%)
similar organization benefit you for
achieving intellectual property right?

Do you think that the country's innovative 1. No 14(58.3%)

policy supports the current traditional 2. Yes 10(41.7%)
application of cultural treatment

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 1.6. Association between socio-demography and KAP about IPR

The knowledge of traditional medicine and intellectual property have a significant

difference between female and male (0.007 [0.05]).

There is also a significant difference in the educational level of the practitioners have
a p value of (0.047[0.05]).

Their attitude towards benefit of knowing and having intellectual property have a
significant difference with average monthly income with a p value of (0.040[0.04]).

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 Cont…

Their attitude towards registering by the responsible body correlated with an

independent factor of average monthly income having a p value 0.011[0.05].

As the participants stated there is a significant difference on their practice and
average monthly income (p 0.036[0.05]) and of educational level (p
0.050[0.05]).

Taking a training on the preparation of traditional medicine shows a

significant difference (p 0.021[0.05])

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P value Sex Age religion Educational level your work experience Average
as a traditional monthly income
medical professional

Knowledge
Where do you find the knowledge and 0.007 0.308 0.165 0.400 0.247 0.696
skills of your cultural treatment

0.112 0.304 0.350 0.047 0.439 0.064

Have you ever heard about intellectual
property rights before

Attitude
do you think intellectual property right 0.202 0.418 0.018 0.138 0.439 0.040
have additional benefit to your work

As the patent right holder, would you 0.195 0.382 0.449 0.089 0.458 0.011
like to register your medicine and
medical application?

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 Practice
As you are a traditional medical 0.476 0.386 0.371 0.100 0.277 0.036
professional have you been recorded
at the responsible body?

Have you taken a training, explaining 0.344 0.207 0.270 0.021 0.283 0.036
how to prepare the medicinal plants,
how to grow the plants you use to
prepare the medicine, how to
cultivate the plants, how to prepare
the medicine' how to store them
after preparation and how to
dispense the medicine for you
patients

Have You registered your innovation 0.476 0.531 0.371 0.050 0.277 0.013
to the concerned body

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5.Discussion

This study revealed that most of the participants in Gondar and Debark town are male
(70.8%) and between the age group of 30-40 (54.2%), we believe the reason for this is
that the knowledge is mostly passed on from father to son rather than to daughters.

Orthodox religion followers pre-dominate the others by (83.3%) in this case the
traditional medicine education is mostly given by the religious fathers.

More than half of the participants have been registered to perform their business legally
by the responsible body (54.2%)

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 Cont…

They have good attitude towards working collaboration with other cultural
professionals, modern medical professionals and researchers (95.8%).

It is shown in this study that most of them took a training explain how to prepare
the medicinal plants, how to grow the plants you use to prepare the medicine,
how to cultivate the plants, how to prepare the medicine' how to store them after
preparation and how to dispense the medicine for you patients(70.8%)

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 Cont…
Greater than half of the respondents know what intellectual property right is (66.7%)

They are familiar with the concepts of copyright (25%) and patent right holder (25%)
more than the rest.

They believe having a patent right benefits them on their work.

As the results of the study shows their educational level and their average income

greatly affected the knowledge attitude and practice of the traditional practitioners on

intellectual property rights.

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5.1 Limitation

• The present study was not void of limitation.

• This study lacks qualitative data supplementation to explore socio-cultural barriers.

• And its limited sample size and lack of time caused us not to expose our full

potential.

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 6.Conclusion

The current studies revealed that majority of the participants are of IPR.

 More than half of them also protected their product/s and trade mark is the major

IP tool used to protect their knowledge among the participants.

There is also good perception towards IP among the study participants.

 Sex, average monthly income, educational level significantly associated with KAP

towards IPR.

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7.Recommendation

The government should work on creating more awareness about intellectual

property rights .

We recommend that the stakeholders should work on creating more trust between
the policy and the traditional health practitioners.

Organise regular trainings as traditional medicine is the backbone of the healthcare

system in developing countries like Ethiopia.

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6. Reference

1. Nations U. P ROTECTING AND P ROMOTING T RADITIONAL K NOWLEDGE : 2004;

2. Tuasha N, Petros B, Asfaw Z. Medicinal plants used by traditional healers to treat malignancies
and other human ailments in Dalle District, Sidama Zone, Ethiopia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed.
2018;14(1):1–21.
3. Gari A, Yarlagadda R, Wolde-Mariam M. Knowledge, attitude, practice, and management of
traditional medicine among people of Burka Jato Kebele, West Ethiopia. J Pharm Bioallied Sci.
2015;7(2):136–44.
4. Working Paper Series. Vol. 85, Review. 2003.
5. Kartal M. Intellectual Property Protection in the Natural Product Drug Discovery , Traditional
Herbal TRIPS AGREEMENT ON TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE. 2007;119(November 2006):113–9.
6. Timmermans K. Intellectual property rights and traditional medicine : policy dilemmas at the
interface. 2003;57:745–56.
7. Dutfield G. B IOGENETIC R ESOURCES AND.
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Cont…

8. Willcox M, Diallo D, Sanogo R, Giani S, Graz B, Falquet J, et al. Author ’ s Accepted

Manuscript Intellectual property rights , benefit-sharing and development of “ improved

traditional medicines ”: a new approach. J Ethnopharmacol [Internet]. 2015

9. Debabandya Mohapatra and Sabyasachi Mishra. C Urrent T Rends in D Rying and. Food Eng

pp 311-352. 2011;24(7):311–25.

10. Knowledge IP. Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge.

11. Ngang CC, Ageh PA. Intellectual property protection of african traditional medicine within

the legal framework of the right to development. African J Int Comp Law. 2019;27(3):426–45.

12. Abebe W. Traditional pharmaceutical northwestern ethiopia practice in gondar region,.

1984;11.
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Acknowledgement
We are grateful to our advisor MR. ABYOT for his constant support, offering helpful
and constructive comments, guiding and encouraging us in all moments for research
proposal preparation. We want to thank our friends for helping us in different ways
to get through this process. We are incredibly thankful to our families- for all their
encouragement, advice and Moral support. And most of all, for always believing in
us. Above all, we extend our special thanks to the Almighty God for everything.

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Thank you!