THE INFLUENCE OF GAP BETWEEN TRADITIONAL HEALER PRACTIONERS(THP's) AND BIOMEDICAL HEALER PRACTIONERS(BHP'S) IN TANZANIA : A CASE OF MKINGA DISTRICT

• Main Author: Kajuna, Dezidery
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Mittuniversitetet, Institutionen för samhällsvetenskap 2011
• Subjects: Traditional healers; biomedical healers practioners; tradtional medicine; challenges; recognition; Sociology; Sociologi
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:miun:diva-14004

ABSTRACT Better health and the general medicalisation process is important for human being to survive and therefore any attempt to deal with human body maintenance, safe and secure measures are highly required by any human. In trying to improve human health, different approaches have been applied; one of them is to incorporate different medical system in order to ensure effectiveness of treatments. However, it has been not easy to incorporate two different medical patterns in some regions due to different reasons. Eventually the situation has created the gap between traditional healer and biomedical healer. This study was intentionally conducted to examine and explore factors behind the gap that has been the main barriers to many people in the health sector in Tanzania. In attempting to investigate, a case study design was applied, and quantitative approach was taken into consideration where a questionnaire was the main tool that was used for data collection from a sample of 200 people of Mkinga districts in Tanzania. Ultimately, the study came up with results that can be used in this thesis to argue that the gap between THPs and BHPs can be due to less recognition of THPs by government and BHPs, but also poor organization among THPs themselves. Hence it advices the government to recognize THPs and their work officially in the region, training to be provided to THPs as well encouraging and fostering cooperation among healers. === <p>This thesis can be used by any of authorised user from any univeristy for academic use only.</p>