Traditional healer's knowledge and implications to the management and control of HIV/AIDS in Arusha, Tanzania

Abstract

Due do limited coverage of conventional health care services in Tanzania, a number of HIV/AIDS patients are consequently being cared for and managed by traditional healers. Knowledge of 132 traditional healers on HIV/AIDS was assessed through a questionnaire that sought among other things the symptoms that these traditional healers associate with HIV/AIDS. Seventy-seven (61%) healers claimed to be treating HIV/AIDS patients. Twenty-five percent (33 healers) had poor, 52.3% (69 healers) had moderate, 22.7% (30 healers) had good knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Sixty-nine (52%) among the traditional healers mentioned six and thirty (23%) healers mentioned more than six symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS as outlined by the WHO clinical HIV staging system. Almost all the healers were aware that HIV/AIDS is spread sexually and through body fluid contact and claimed that precautionary measures are taken to avoid spread of the disease. Knowledge on HIV/AIDS infection from mother to child during pregnancy, at delivery and through breastfeeding was poor for most healers. It seems most traditional healers meet HIV/AIDS patients in their terminal stages when HIV/AIDS-related opportunistic infections are highly manifest, a situation exemplified by the recorded symptoms that were not specific or directly related to HIV/AIDS. There is a need to impart the appropriate knowledge in the identified deficient areas to avoid possibilities of further spread of the disease through the traditional medicine delivery system. _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Traditional Knowledge, Use Practices and Conservation of Medicinal Plants for HIV/AIDS Care in Rural Tanzania

“…Some of the plants were reported to be active against other fungi including Cryptococcus neoformans (San Felice) Vuill., a major pathogenic fungus in HIV/AIDS. A study on knowledge of 132 traditional healers on HIV/AIDS in Arusha, Tanzania, revealed that 61% of the interviewed healers claimed to be treating HIV/AIDS patients (Uiso et al 2006). Hamza et al (2006) screened 65 methanolic plant extracts against Candida spp., C. neoformans and Aspergillus niger Tiegh., 40% of which were found to be active against one or more of the test fungi, hence con- …”

“…Health facilities are overburdened by the increasing demand for care of HIV/AIDS patients (Uiso et al 2006). The traditional healers play a crucial role of providing primary health care by taking care of people living with HIV/ AIDS (Kala et al 2004, Scheinman 2002.…”

Utilization of medicinal plants used in the management of HIV/AIDS opportunistic infections in njeru sub-county, buikwe district, Uganda

“…5,6 In Sub-Saharan Africa, traditional healers treat and manage a large number of people with HIV/AIDS. Health facilities are overburdened by the increasing demand for care of HIV/AIDS patients, 7,8 medicinal plants play a crucial role of providing remedy and also provides health care by taking care of people living with HIV/ AIDS. 9,10 In Uganda, people use plants as medicines and nutritional supplements in the management of various infections associated with HIV/AIDS which are not documented.…”

Traditional health practitioner and the scientist: Bridging the gap in contemporary health research in Tanzania

“…As potential health care stakeholders, THPs from several countries, including Tanzania, have shown their commitment towards fighting HIV/ AIDS (Uiso et al, 2006;Kayombo et al, 2007). An ongoing collaborative endeavour between THPs and the scientists in Tanzania has been initiated aimed at evaluating safety, efficacy and toxicity of traditional herbal remedies used by THPs in the management of HIV/AIDS patients (Uiso et al, 2006, Kayombo et al, 2007.…”

“…An ongoing collaborative endeavour between THPs and the scientists in Tanzania has been initiated aimed at evaluating safety, efficacy and toxicity of traditional herbal remedies used by THPs in the management of HIV/AIDS patients (Uiso et al, 2006, Kayombo et al, 2007. Careful analysis of the knowledge of THPs on HIV/AIDS captured through a series of seminars and structured questionnaires enabled the Institute to identify genuine and knowledgeable THPs on HIV/ AIDS (Uiso et al, 2006). Formal agreement was reached through educational workshops and by involving legal partners from both parties a consensus was reached and in 2005 at least seven collaborating THPs signed Memorandum of Understanding with the ITM.…”