Traditional healers and the management of sexually transmitted diseases in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

To describe the role of traditional healers in STD case management, in-depth interviews were held with 16 healers (seven witchdoctors, five herbalists and four spiritual healers) in four slum areas in Nairobi, Kenya. All healers believed that STDs are sexually transmitted and recognized the main symptoms. The STD-caseload varied largely, with a median of one patient per week. Witchdoctors and herbalists dispensed herbal medication for an average of seven days, whereas spiritual healers prayed. Thirteen healers gave advice on sexual abstinence during treatment, 11 on contact treatment, four on faithfulness and three on condom use. All healers asked patients to return for review and 13 reported referring patients whose conditions persist to public or private health care facilities. Thus, traditional healers in Nairobi play a modest but significant role in STD management. Their contribution to STD health education could be strengthened, especially regarding the promotion of condoms and faithfulness.

Urban–rural Contrasts in Explanatory Models and Treatment-Seeking Behaviours for Stroke in Tanzania

“…For example, among the Luo in Kenya, malaria and dysentery are held to arise from natural or environmental causes, and may be treated using modern medical treatment, while other illnesses are believed to emanate from witchcraft or from breaching particular taboos and are thereby not amenable to treatment from Western medicine (Sindiga, 1995). Similar findings have been reported for a large number of other African populations (Nyamwaya, 1981;Ingstad, 1990;Beckerleg, 1994;Castle, 1994;Mabilia, 2000;Kusimba et al, 2003;Mshana et al, 2006). The attribution of illness to both natural and supernatural causes has led to differing opinions as to whether African illness aetiologies and treatments are primarily characterized by 'supernatural' explanations, e.g.…”

The influence of traditional medicine and religion on discontinuation of ART in an urban informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya

“…In Kenya, 75-80% of the population is Protestant or Catholic, 10% are Muslims and 10% belong to various indigenous religions (PEPFAR, 2007). The use of spiritual healing is not well studied but important to many people in Kenya and significant as part of sexual transmitted disease management in Nairobi (Kusimba, et al, 2003).…”

Use of modern and traditional products to self-treat symptoms of sexually transmitted infections in South African women

“…Ultimately, choice of traditional healer over a medical practitioner is more complex, with traditional medicine reportedly more client centred, personalized and cognizant of the social and spiritual context in which patients live. 3 All primary health-care clinics in South Africa provide free treatment for STIs, where syndromic management of STIs is the current recommended policy. 26 Contraceptive prevalence in South Africa is high (64.7% in sexually active women), 2 suggesting that women make frequent visits to health centres for contraceptive supplies.…”

“…While having an STI is one of the most common reasons for people to consult traditional healers in South Africa, as it is in other African countries, 3–5 we know little about the individuals who self-treat STI symptoms and the products used for this purpose. Some information about self-treatment comes from STI clients who have been asked whether they treated symptoms prior to attending a public sector service.…”