Local Management of Tuberculosis by Traditional Medicine Practitioners in Lake Victoria Region
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Date
2009
Authors
Okemo, P. O.
Kirimuhuzya, Claude
Otieno, Joseph N.
Magadula, Joseph J
Orodho, John Aluko
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is now a global public health problem that has been exacerbated by the emergence of multiand
extensively-drug resistant (MDR and XDR, respectively) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There have been
claims in the region by Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) about being able to treat the symptoms of TB, but their
work lacked proper documentation. A structured questionnaire was used to test the ability of (TMPs) to diagnose and treat
symptoms of TB; the medicinal plants used treat TB symptoms, as well as the influence of socio-economic and cultural
factors on the indigenous communities’ choice of treatment. A total of 99 TMPs and 22 TB patients were interviewed.
Over 30 medicinal plants were mentioned as being used to treat symptoms of TB, an indication of wide knowledge on
management of TB in the region. Treatment costs were found to influence the patients’ choice of TB treatment and a large
proportion of the TMPs were found to be of advanced age (60-80 years of age). The conclusion was that TMPs have
reasonable knowledge about TB and its management. There is urgent need to tap the indigenous knowledge from the
custodians and scientifically validate it for future drug development.
Description
Keywords
Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, extensively drug resistant tuberculosis, traditional medicine practitioners, socioeconomic and cultural factors, Lake Victoria Region
Citation
The Open Complementary Medicine Journal, 2011, 3, 1-9