Tomas T, Wilsone M, Jurg A, Kirchner GA; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1992 Jul 19-24; 8: D532 (abstract no. PoD 5858).
Dept. of Traditional Medicine, Maputo, Mozambique.
OBJECTIVES: Although there may be no clear epidemiological evidence to date that skin-piercing practices associated with traditional healing are spreading AIDS in Africa, potential for such transmission is sufficient that the WHO recently inaugurated a strategy to "collaborate with member states to ensure the use of sterile needles, syringes and other skin-piercing practices in medical and other settings". 2 At the same time traditional healers are themselves exposed to blood and other bodily fluids in their routine practices. Some of their patients may be HIV-positive or even have AIDS. putting the healers themselves at risk. Therefore it is important to determine what knowledge, attitudes, practices and beliefs TH have about AIDS. METHODS: THs living in two urban, semi-urban or non-urban neighbourhoods of Maputo were randomly selected. The sample reflected the two third majority of female THs in Maputo. A fixed questionnaire was used. All interviews were conducted in the homes of the healers in the local language by modern health workers and members of the youth organisation from May till July 1989. Occasionally more than one visit was paid to a TH if he accepted that we assisted his/her patient consultations. Results were discussed with almost all THs living in the selected neighbourhoods during joint meetings, satisfying also their urgent request to give more "modern" information on AIDS. RESULTS: The densely-populated semi-urban neighbourhoods had the highest TH:inhabitants ratio of 1:210. The majority is older than 35 year, has a domestic lifestyle and hardly any education, but does understand some portuguese. 27 women also act as traditional birth attendants (TRA), if necessary. 4 had been modern health workers before. They had heard about a new disease called AIDS mainly by radio and from other THs. Transmission was thought to occur through sex, but few were aware of the danger of contaminated blood. Traditional vaccinations are frequently used, they rub powdered drugs into the small incisions, mode with razor blades, with their finger. Few had taken any preventive measures. CONCLUSIONS: The study turned out to be an awareness raising exercise among the THs in the selected neighbourhoods, not only of AIDS and its prevention, but also, maybe more important, of the change in attitude of the Mozambican government towards the long since undervalued role of THs in society. We strongly felt the need for qualitative research methods to explore health beliefs and practices.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Africa
- Community Health Aides
- Culture
- Female
- Health
- Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
- Health Planning
- Health Services
- Humans
- Knowledge
- Mozambique
- Teaching
- United States
- education
- organization & administration
- therapy
Other ID:
UI: 102201040
From Meeting Abstracts