Traditional Healers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions About Tuberculosis and Collaboration with the Conventional Health System in the Kereyu Pastoralist Area of Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundTraditional Healers (THs) hold significant roles in many developing countries, often sought for ailments like tuberculosis (TB). However, their knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding TB, particularly in Ethiopia’s pastoralist areas, remains unexamined. This study evaluates THs’ KAP on TB and their perceptions to collaborate with conventional health systems on TB control.MethodA cross-sectional survey was conducted among THs in Kereyu, Ethiopia from September 2014 to January 2015. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, 268 THs were interviewed. Health Extension workers helped identify the THs.ResultsOf the 268 participants, 80.6% were male. 97.4% were aware of TB (locally “dukubba soombaa”), with 80.2% associating its cause to proximity with a TB patient. Coughing for over two weeks was identified as a primary TB symptom by 87.35%. However, 66.4% displayed limited biomedical knowledge on TB. A notable 38.4% associated TB with sadness and hopelessness, while 47.8% utilized plant-based remedies for treatment. Impressively, 86.2% expressed willingness to collaborate with conventional health services for TB control.ConclusionThe THs had limited biomedical knowledge and some misconceptions about TB. Despite providing traditional medicine to treat TB, their readiness to collaborate with established health systems is promising. Thus, Ethiopian TB control initiatives should consider integrating THs via targeted training and health education interventions.