Conceptualization of Mental illness and Treatment practice among Traditional Healers at Gondar city
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Date
2016-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The aim of the study was to explore traditional healers’ conception and treatment practice
concerning mental illness. To achieve this aim qualitative approach was employed because the
study was exploratory in nature, since much has not been done about the topic and population
being studied. The researcher, therefore, sought information and built a picture based on
participants’ idea. The study was conducted at Gondar city located in Amhara regional state of
Ethiopia. The population in this study comprise of traditional healers who are located at Gondar
city. Purposive sampling was employed to select eight traditional healers and two clients. Semi
structured interview and non participant observation were used to collect data. All the interviews
were conducted by the researcher and audio-taped. The observation was also conducted by the
researcher. Initial/open, axial, and selective coding types were conducted to condense the huge
data and made fit into the preconceived themes. Thematic analysis is the particular data analysis
technique used in the study. Themes that have actual and/or potential relationship with the
overarching objective are selected and discussed. The study concludes that Traditional healers
are able to recognize disorders related to psychosis easily being limited for other mental
disorders; They have multiple explanation about causes of mental illness, including;
supernatural, biological and psychosocial explanations. Traditional healers employ different
techniques for diagnosing mental disorders including; Different religious books like Awed
Negest; through symptom identification and by using different herbal medicines. It is also found
that traditional healers employ different treatment modalities as an intervention for mental disorders including: herbal medicines, spiritual interventions, traditional rituals and counseling
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Philosophy