Traditional healers and their practices in Malawi
Harries, A.D.; Banerjee, A.; Gausi, F.; Nyirenda, T.E.; Boeree, M.J.; Kwanjana, J.; Salaniponi, F.M.
Tropical Doctor 32(1): 32-33
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0049-4755 PMID: 11991024 DOI: 10.1177/004947550203200116Document Number: 531136
During 1998, briefing sessions were conducted with traditional healers in 5 districts in Malawi as part of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme's initiative in collaborating with traditional healers and informing them about tuberculosis (TB) and its management. For each traditional healer who attended a briefing session, a health care worker completed a structured questionnaire. There were 1573 questionnaires returned. In 1565 questionnaires, information about how the traditional healer learned his craft was obtained. In 912 (58%) cases, the healers reported having visited by a spirit and learned the trade through the medium of a spirit. Traditional healers had been taught by parents or relatives in 443 (28%) cases, and fellow traditional healers in 154 (10%) cases. 1566 traditional healers saw a total of 44 109 patients per week. The most common symptom complex seen was one of the traditional conditions, all associated with cough, chest pain and weight loss. There were 1450 questionnaires answered in relation to the management of patients thought to be suffering from TB. In 942 (65%) cases, the traditional healer stated that the patient would be referred to hospital for further examination. In 359 (25%) cases, the patient would be treated by either herbal drinks, herbal baths, an herbal solution mixed into porridge or root powder applied to the tongue. It is concluded that traditional healers should be taught to recognize illnesses, for example TB or eye diseases, which they cannot and should not treat, and at the same time they should be encouraged to administer safe treatments for conditions more amenable to their type of practice.