AWARENESS WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING? EXPLORING KENYAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTIONS OF AYURVEDIC MEDICINE

The growing global interest in complementary and integrative medicine has increased attention to Ayurvedic medicine beyond its South Asian origins. However, empirical evidence on awareness and perceptions of Ayurveda among university students in Africa, particularly in Kenya, remains limited. This study assessed Kenyan university students' knowledge and perceptions of Ayurvedic herbal and integrative medicine and examined factors influencing its acceptance within an emerging integrative healthcare landscape. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted between October and December 2025 among 101 undergraduate and postgraduate students drawn from three Kenyan universities (two public and one private). Participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data was collected through a structured self-administered questionnaire comprising demographic items and open-ended questions exploring awareness, knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes towards Ayurvedic medicine. Qualitative responses were analyzed thematically using NVivo following Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis framework. The results showed that slightly over half of the respondents (56.4%) had previously heard of Ayurvedic medicine, while 38.6% had no prior awareness. Social media emerged as the principal source of information. Although participants generally expressed positive attitudes towards Ayurveda and supported its integration with conventional healthcare, their understanding of Ayurvedic principles remained limited, with many conflating Ayurveda with indigenous African herbal medicine. Four major themes emerged: limited awareness and conceptual understanding of Ayurveda; positive perceptions of integrative healthcare; concerns regarding scientific evidence, safety, and regulatory oversight; and the perceived role of universities in advancing education and research on complementary medicine. The findings indicate that Kenyan university students demonstrate considerable openness towards Ayurvedic herbal and integrative medicine despite significant knowledge gaps. The findings highlight the need for evidence-based health education, strengthened research, robust regulatory frameworks, and interdisciplinary university curricula to enhance health literacy and support the responsible integration of Ayurvedic medicine into Kenya's evolving healthcare system.