Attitudes towards African traditional medicine and Christian spiritual healing regarding treatment of epilepsy in a rural community of northern Tanzania

Authors

  • Andrea Sylvia Winkler Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine and Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
  • Michael Mayer Department of Traumatology and Sports Injuries, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
  • Michael Ombay Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Manyara Region, Tanzania
  • Bartholomayo Mathias Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Manyara Region, Tanzania
  • Erich Schmutzhard Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
  • Louise Jilek-Aall Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

Keywords:

epilepsy, traditional medicine, Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Most people with epilepsy (PWE) live in developing countries with limited access to health care facilities. In sub-Saharan Africa with over 40 million PWE, 90% do not receive adequate medical treatment. In this context, traditional medicine, being easily accessible, plays an important role. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, studies on the attitude of people (both affected and not affected by epilepsy) towards traditional medicine for treatment of epilepsy are scarce. Methods: In this study, 167 people (59 PWE, 62 relatives, 46 villagers) were interviewed at the hospital and in the community with a semi-structured validated questionnaire regarding the prevailing attitude towards traditional medicine for treatment of epilepsy in a rural area of northern Tanzania. Results: Various traditional healing methods (THM) could be ascertained, i.e. traditional herbal medicine, spiritual healing, scarifications and spitting. 44.3% (n=74/167) of the interviewed people were convinced that epilepsy could be treated successfully with THM. Interestingly, 34.1% (n=57/167) thought that Christian prayers could cure the cause and/or treat symptoms of epilepsy. Significantly more PWE and their relatives were in favour of THM compared to villagers not knowing about or not immediately affected by epilepsy (χ2-test, p=0.004). Further factors influencing people’s attitudes towards THM were gender, tribe, religion and urbanity of people’s dwellings. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that not only THM but also prayers in the Christian sense seem to play an important role in people’s beliefs regarding successful treatment of epilepsy. Factors influencing this belief system have been identified and are discussed.

Author Biographies

Andrea Sylvia Winkler, Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine and Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany

specialist neurologist and in charge of Tropical Neurology; MD, PhD

Michael Mayer, Department of Traumatology and Sports Injuries, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria

doctor in training; MD

Michael Ombay, Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Manyara Region, Tanzania

specialist nurse

Bartholomayo Mathias, Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Manyara Region, Tanzania

specialist nurse

Erich Schmutzhard, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria

professor, specialist neurologist; MD; PhD

Louise Jilek-Aall, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

professor, specialist psychiatrist; MD, PhD

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Published

2009-11-29

How to Cite

Winkler, A. S., Mayer, M., Ombay, M., Mathias, B., Schmutzhard, E., & Jilek-Aall, L. (2009). Attitudes towards African traditional medicine and Christian spiritual healing regarding treatment of epilepsy in a rural community of northern Tanzania. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 7(2), 162–170. Retrieved from https://journals.athmsi.org/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/648

Issue

Section

Research Papers