Traditional health practices: A qualitative inquiry among traditional health practitioners in northern Uganda on becoming a healer, perceived causes of illnesses, and diagnostic approaches

Abstract

Background The practice of traditional and complementary medicine is increasing in most low-and middle-income countries especially for chronic communicable and non-communicable diseases. In this study, we aimed to understand how people gain healing power and become traditional health practitioners (THPs), perceived causes of illnesses, and how THPs diagnose illnesses. Methods This was a cross-sectional qualitative interview-based study. We used semi-structured in-depth guides to collect data from THPs identified through the Acoli cultural institutions and snowball sampling technique. The study team visited the THPs and interviewed them in their homes. Some THPs allowed the study team to visit them more than once and as well observe their healing practices and medicines. Thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the data. Atlas.ti version 9.2 was used to support data analysis. Results Twenty two THPs aged 39–80 years were included in the study. Most of the respondents were male, and married. We identified three main themes: (i) how people gain healing power and become traditional health practitioners; (ii) perceived causes of illnesses; and (iii) how illnesses are diagnosed. The majority of respondents reported that most people become THPs through: inheriting healing power from their parents or grandparents; transfer of healing powers from senior healers; instructions during visions and dreams; and, acquiring healing power during spirits possessions. Perceived causes of illnesses included: fate and natural causes, spirits attacks, curses by elders, witchcraft, contagion and infections, poor hygiene, heredity, and malevolent actions. THPs diagnose illnesses through various approaches including consultations with spirits, observing patterns of occurrences and events, evaluation of symptoms and signs of illnesses, use of bones from animals/birds and other objects to diagnose illnesses, performing diagnostic rituals, and using biomedical laboratory testing in health facilities. Conclusion Healing knowledge and powers are acquired in particular ways that can be traced to appraise authenticity of healers during registration and licensing to ensure safety of patients. Understanding perspectives of the THPS on causes of illnesses and how diagnoses are made potentially informs strategies for integration and or collaboration between the national biomedical health system and traditional health practices.

An exploratory study on becoming a traditional spiritual healer among Baganda in Central Uganda

“…Previous researchers documented similar findings, that spiritual calling into healing is an intergenerational familial natural gift (16,23,68). Another researcher found that anointment into healing using ancestral spirits is involuntary, and may manifest through challenges of illness (69).…”

“…Although the ways spiritual healers obtain their knowledge and skills vary widely (23), and the reliability of ancestral communication and its contextual packaging is highly arguable, the valid sources of exact knowledge stand questionable (78). Some countries, such as China, Korea, India and Vietnam, have established official education/training programs for traditional medicine practitioners at university levels (13,18).…”

“…In Africa, traditional healers diagnose illness, identify sources of problems and find solutions through communication with ancestors (21)(22)(23). Although some countries have legalised traditional medicines, they have left out aspects of spirits and spirits possession (24)(25)(26), due to limited literature to enable policy makers appreciate their health roles (27)(28)(29).…”

“…Therefore, training and practice engaging ancestral spirits during health management is vulnerable to widespread charlatanism, misinformation, ambiguity (13,45), and no official levels of utilization of traditional spiritual healers in health care (15). It is, therefore, a national challenge and priority to understand and regulate training of traditional spiritual healers, their practices and premises (43) so as to inform policy (23).…”

Prevalence and reasons to seek traditional healing methods among residents of two localities in North Kordofan State, Sudan 2022: A cross‐sectional study

“…22 In addition, the harmful potential of traditional healers lies on the fact that they do not receive authentic academic education in medicine, which is supported by responses of a previous study where traditional healing practitioners were asked about how they diagnose illnesses and majority responded they diagnose illnesses through various approaches including consultations with spirits, observing patterns of occurrences and events, use of bones from animals/birds and other objects to diagnose illnesses, and performing diagnostic rituals. 23 The strength of this study is that it is the first study to tackle traditional medicine in the region of North Kordofan, including participants of both genders, various age groups, and cultural and religious beliefs, which we believe that the findings reported would be of benefit towards better healthcare distribution and would be the sparkle to focus the light on the issue of traditional medicine in Sudan as a whole.…”