Perspectives on health, illness, disease and management approaches among Baganda traditional spiritual healers in Central Uganda

Abstract

Abstract In Uganda, spirituality is closely associated with traditional healthcare; however, though prevalent, it is considered controversial, mystical, less-documented and often misunderstood. There is a paucity of literature on the description of health, illness, disease, and management approaches among traditional spiritual healers. This article examines perspectives on health, illness, disease and management approaches among Baganda traditional spiritual healers, the Balubaale , in central Uganda, who engage ancestral spirits in health care and management. The study used a qualitative study design in particular grounded theory. Unstructured, qualitative interviews and observation were used on 12 male and female purposively selected Balubaale in Central Uganda. Data was transcribed, coded and thematically analyzed using ATLAS ti. 22 Computer software based on an inductive approach. Findings show that the words and concepts describing health, illness, disease and management approaches are descriptive and contextualized to include the problem, the prospected root-causes, and therapeutic approaches involved. The words for illness “ olumbe”, disease “obulwadde” and the management approaches such as divination ( kulagula) , ritual cleansing (kwambulula ), amulets ( ensiriba and yirizi) , and scarification ( kusandaga) have spiritual and social dimensions, contextual meanings and attachments. Further research is recommended among other tribes and larger sample size to compare findings and terminologies to facilitate communication and policy considerations.