Perceptions and practices of modern and traditional health practitioners about traditional medicine in Shirka District, Arsi Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Traditional medicine is an anicient Medical practice that is still widely used in prevention and teritment of various health problem in Ethiopia. To Evaluate perciptions and practices of modern Traditional Health and practitioners about traditonal medicine in shiraka District of Arsi Zone,Ethiopia.A Cross-sectional study pertiaining to the practices and practices of modern and traditional health practitioners was carried out in Febrauary 1999 in four peassnt associations of shirka Distnict. Two types of Questionnaires (with closed and open-ended questions) were prepared to assess the respective practitioners.Fourteen modernpractitioners and 80 traditional healers werw interviewed.Most of the practitioners in both systems had used traditional medicine at least once in their lifetime. The indigenous knowledge surrounding traditional medicine is mainly conveyed varbally and to some extent still employes superstitious beliefs and harmful practices . To Substantially reduce the drawbacks and promte its positive elements, both types of practitioners expressed their willingness to collaborate among each other and believe in the need for government support. the knowledgn surrounding traditional medicen incorporates a number of harmful practices. To make mmatteres worse, this knowledge is mostely conveyed verbally which may result in the inevitable distortion of original information leading to the expansion of more and more harmful practices. Therefore the need for more effort among the various institiuation are emphsized for Governmental support and coordinated effort among the various institiution are emphasized for promotion and developement of traditional medicine.