Abstract
BackgroundThis study was conducted in the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. Our objective was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practice of traditional healers who treat lung diseases and tuberculosis (TB), including their willingness to collaborate with the national TB programme.MethodsThis was a descriptive study using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Quantitative analysis was based on the responses provided to closed-ended questions, and we used descriptive analysis (frequencies) to describe the knowledge, attitudes and practice of the traditional healers towards TB. Qualitative analysis was based on open-ended questions permitting fuller explanations. We used thematic analysis and developed a posteriori inductive categories to draw original and unbiased conclusions.ResultsNineteen traditional healers were interviewed; 18 were male. Fifteen of the healers reported treating short wind (a local term to describe lung, chest or breathing illnesses) which they attributed to food, alcohol, smoking or pollution from contact with menstrual blood, and a range of other physical and spiritual causes. Ten said that they would treat TB with leaf medicine. Four traditional healers said that they would not treat TB. Twelve of the healers had referred someone to a hospital for a strong wet-cough and just over half of the healers (9) reported a previous collaboration with the Government health care system. Eighteen of the traditional healers would be willing to collaborate with the national TB programme, with or without compensation.ConclusionsTraditional healers in Vanuatu treat lung diseases including TB. Many have previously collaborated with the Government funded health care system, and almost all of them indicated a willingness to collaborate with the national TB programme. The engagement of traditional healers in TB management should be considered, using an evidence based and culturally sensitive approach.
Highlights
This study was conducted in the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu
national TB programme (NTP) have attempted to determine the contribution of traditional healers to TB management, with the aim to involve them in TB care [3,4,5]
This research has focused on traditional healers in Africa, India and Nepal [3,8,13,14], but there is little Pacific research, and none that focuses on co-operation between Western health care systems and traditional healers
Summary
Our objective was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practice of traditional healers who treat lung diseases and tuberculosis (TB), including their willingness to collaborate with the national TB programme. This research has focused on traditional healers in Africa, India and Nepal [3,8,13,14], but there is little Pacific research, and none that focuses on co-operation between Western health care systems and traditional healers. This relationship is not always straightforward due to potential misunderstandings on both sides. Health authorities may object to collaboration with traditional healers, as their roles are often conflated with negative images of “black magic”, and sorcery, which are opposed to modern notions of benevolent biomedicine
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