Perspectives on health, illness, disease and management approaches among traditional health care spiritualists in Central Uganda

Abstract

AbstractIn Uganda, spirituality is closely associated with traditional healthcare, however though prevalent, is considered controversial, mystical, less-documented and is often misunderstood. There is a paucity of literature on the description of health, illness, disease, management approaches among spiritual traditional healthcare practitioners. This article examines perspectives on health, illness, disease and management approaches among traditional health care spiritualists in central Uganda.Balubaaleare Baganda health care spiritualists engaging ancestral spirits in health care and management. The study used a qualitative study design in particular grounded theory. Unstructured, qualitative interviews and observation were used on 12 male and female purposively selectedBalubaalein Central Uganda. Data was transcribed, coded and thematically analyzed using ATLAS ti. 22 Computer software based on inductive approach.Findings show that the word and concepts describing health, illness, disease and management approaches are descriptive and contextualized in the nature of the problem, the prospected root-causes, and therapeutic approaches involved. The words for illness “Olumbe”,disease“obulwadde”and management approaches divination (kulagula), ritual cleansing(Kwambulula), amulets (EnsiribaandYirizi), and Scarification (Kusandaga)have spiritual and social dimensions, contextual meanings and attachments.Further research must be done among other ethnic groups to compare findings and terminologies to facilitate communication and policy considerations.