Healers important tool in preventing AIDS in Malawi
AIDS weekly 1994: 10
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 1069-1456 PMID: 12288425 Document Number: 287448
According to a report from the International Eye Foundation, traditional healers in Africa, even when illiterate, are vital to disseminating information about the prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Because of their position in the community as trusted health care providers, they are free to speak about sensitive topics, such as sex. In the study by Berger and colleagues, "Traditional Healers in AIDS Control," 334 healers from the district of Chikwawa attended a one-day course on AIDS. Prior to this, a random sample of 89 healers had been interviewed, using a standardized pre-tested form, about their AIDS and STD knowledge, attitudes, and practices. 85 of the 89 were reinterviewed 18 months later. 43 had been to the training session. Those who had received training were more likely to have changed their practices and initiated community public health activities. They were 2.5 times as likely to have counseled AIDS patients and families. Healers with large practices were more likely to have conducted community education than those with smaller practices. 83.3% of female healers (all illiterate), 66.6% of male illiterate healers, and 53.8% of literate male healers had distributed condoms. Of those healers attending the course, 48.8% had undertaken the 3 community public health activities (community education, talking to other healers, and condom distribution); 23.3% had initiated 2 of the 3 activities.