The role of women in traditional healing among the Bambara of Mali
Imperato, P.J.
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 75(6): 766-770
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-9203 PMID: 7330937 DOI: 10.1016/0035-9203(81)90406-5Document Number: 387353
The role of women in traditional healing among the Bambara people in Mali, Africa is investigated. The Bambara are a patrilineal and patrilocal society where men occupy the dominant role. This survey consisted of a questionnaire study of 262 households in 29 villages and a survey to determine the current level of functioning of traditional women's cults which engage in healing. The preparation of herbal remedies at the household level was found to be the responsibility of men in 76 (29%), of women in 68 (25.9%), and of both men and women in 118 (45.1%) households. An estimated 4.9 men herbalists and 0.9 women herbalists/1000 population were found. 246 (93.9%) male heads of households consulted men herbalists and 15 (5.7%) women herbalists. By contrast, 248 (41.2%) of 602 women of male household heads consulted women herbalists and 549 (91.2%) men herbalists. Most women herbalists limited their activities to women (menstruation, lactation, marriage, conception, and pregnancy) and children (nutrition deficiencies, fevers, rashes, and diarrhea). 5 of the 14 women herbalists also treated men. Women are the major authorities in home herbal therapeusis in a significant number of households (45.1%). Multipurpose women's societies and cults deal with illness prevention and disease cures. Those traditional medical practitioners provide most of the medical care to both rural and urban populations.