Abstract:
The application of indigenous human health knowledge (IHHK) for healing
various human physical ailments has recently gained new momentum in many
African countries, including Tanzania. Thus, sharing of such knowledge is
viewed as the main strategy and mechanism for its sustainability. In Tanzania,
efforts to establish collaboration in health service delivery between traditional
healers and conventional health practitioners as one of the IHHK sharing
strategies have been put in place. However, there is no comprehensive study
assessing the behavioural patterns and aspects of sharing of such knowledge
among traditional healers.
This study employed a mixed approach for data collection and analysis.
Systematic sampling was used to select traditional healers for the study whilst
purposive sampling was used to involve coordinators and directors of the
Traditional and Alternative Health Practices Council, and Heads of
Departments at the Institute of Traditional Medicine. A total of 26 respondents
participated in this study.
The results show that traditional healers shared IHHK through mentorship,
interaction and socialisation. Other ways included collaboration, training and
professional networks. The aspects of sharing involved exchange of patients and
experiences on healing or dealing with a particular ailment. However, in the
process, the mistrust and stigmatisation of IHHK hindered collaboration
between traditional healers and conventional health practitioners. Various
strategies have been proposed to address this, including the prioritisation of
budgetary allocation for sharing IHHK; the building of trust between and
among these health practitioners; having in place knowledge management and sharing policies which clearly state the incentives and rewards for those who
share their knowledge; and the establishment of a designated position for a
member of staff responsible for ensuring IHHK is shared.
