Mental Illness Perspectives and Healing Practices Among Muslim Healers: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2025-06-12
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: perception and treatment approaches toward mental illness differ across cultures, with traditional and religious healing practices playing a significant role in many communities. In Muslim societies religious healing practices influence how mental illness is perceived, diagnosed and managed. Despite their extensive use and huge influence, the perspectives of Muslim healers toward mental illness and religious healing practices remain unexplored.
Objectives: The study aims to explore how Muslim healers understand and perceive mental illness. Specifically; the study aims to investigate the diagnostic and treatment approaches used by Muslim healers.
Methods: A generic qualitative research method was used to explore the perception of Muslim healers regarding mental illness. Eight participants were recruited using purposive a snowballing sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and then transcribed verbatim, translated into English. Thematic analysis was employed to identify recurring themes
Results: From the data obtained five core themes emerged, including understanding and conceptualization of mental and spiritual illness, beliefs about the causes of mental and spiritual illness, assessment practices to identify illness, healing approaches and methods, and collaboration between health care practitioners. Finding highlights the centrality of spiritual beliefs in healers understanding and treating mental illness, despite some openness to psychological explanations, spiritual methods were preferred.
Conclusion: The study highlights the significant role of Muslim healers in mental health care and indicates the need for culturally sensitive collaboration between spiritual and biomedical /psychological system to improve access and outcomes.
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A Thesis Proposal Submitted, Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences