Views of biomedical practitioners and traditional healers on concerted mental health care provision in Tanzania: A study protocol for a qualitative explorative study

Abstract

Access to mental healthcare in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains low. In Tanzania specifically, there is an urgent need to scale up mental health care, decrease the mental health treatment gap, and make mental health care more accepted and accessible within the community. Since traditional medicine plays a prominent role in the mental health care system in Tanzania, improving access through collaboration between biomedical practitioners and traditional healers could be a possible way forward. The aim of the current study is to explore views among biomedical practitioners and traditional healers on collaboration between both groups in mental health care in the Dodoma region, Tanzania. We will conduct qualitative interviews using key informant interviews (KII) and in-depth-interviews (IDI) with mental health care providers, traditional healers, and coordinators from the Dodoma region till saturation is achieved. Interviews will be transcribed verbatim and coded, followed by a thematic analysis. This qualitative study is the first to explore opportunities for strengthening the mental health care system by establishing views on collaboration among biomedical practitioners and traditional healers in Tanzania mainland.