Abstract
A better understanding of attitudes and beliefs held by traditional healers and utilizers of traditional medicine concerning mental health conditions in Liberia is important as Liberia seeks to improve its delivery of mental healthcare in the context of scarce resources and recovery from civil war. A qualitative research design was used to collect data from 24 Liberian traditional healers, and 11 utilizers of Liberian traditional medicine. Participants were queried about mental health problems in Liberia, treatments, and attitudes towards modern healthcare. Qualitative data were probed and aggregated using content analysis. Mental health problems described by study participants included: Open Mole, African Science, Epilepsy, Depression and Mental Illness (trauma/substance use). Mental health problems were often associated with socioeconomic distress, and participants described their attitudes and beliefs concerning mental healthcare, traditional medicine, and modern healthcare. Traditional medicine is an important part of mental healthcare in Africa. Mental illness, social factors, and healthcare access were important problems in Liberia. Mental health problems blended local cultural beliefs with Westernized nosology and social factors. Traditional healer's attitudes towards Western medicine reflected ambivalence. There is a desire for collaboration with 'modern' health care providers, but this will require reciprocal trust-building.
Highlights
The West African country of Liberia is one of the poorest nations globally and has been plagued by two civil wars spanning almost 15 years[1,2]
Background: A better understanding of attitudes and beliefs held by traditional healers and utilizers of traditional medicine concerning mental health conditions in Liberia is important as Liberia seeks to improve its delivery of mental healthcare in the context of scarce resources and recovery from civil war
Cite as: Pullen SJ, Herman AR, Lange BCL, Christian-Brathwaite N, Ulloa M, Kempeh MP, et al Towards a better understanding of attitudes and beliefs held by traditional healers and recipients of traditional medicine concerning mental health conditions in post-conflict Liberia: a qualitative investigation
Summary
The West African country of Liberia is one of the poorest nations globally and has been plagued by two civil wars spanning almost 15 years[1,2]. A better understanding of attitudes and beliefs held by traditional healers and utilizers of traditional medicine concerning mental health conditions in Liberia is important as Liberia seeks to improve its delivery of mental healthcare in the context of scarce resources and recovery from civil war. Mental health problems were often associated with socioeconomic distress, and participants described their attitudes and beliefs concerning mental healthcare, traditional medicine, and modern healthcare. Social factors, and healthcare access were important problems in Liberia.
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