1. TRADITIONAL MEDICAL BELIEFS AND
PRACTICES IN URBAN CONTEXT
(THE CASE OF GULELE SUB-CITY, ADDIS
ABABA)
By: Yonas Yilma
Advisor: Abraham Alemu
Jun. 2011

2. BACKGROUND
 Traditional medicine refers to any ancient,
culturally based healthcare practice different
from modern medicine and it is commonly
regarded as indigenous, unorthodox, alternative
or folk and largely orally transmitted practice
used by communities with different cultures
(Croizer, 1968).
 From the healing practices of man, healing
using traditional medicine has a long history.
TM and THs possessed key positions in the
society. It has been noted that about 80% of the
world population were dependent of THs
(WHO, 2004)

3. CONTN’ED
 People in developing world are heavily dependent on TM.
Africa is one of the continents in which TM is highly
practiced. Many Africans depend on the use of TM and
THs services to deal with their H.P.
 TM also has a very long history in Ethiopia before the
begging of MM . It has been providing both preventative
and curative services for Ethiopian peoples.

4. CONTN’ED
Even today, various studies have shown that
90% of Ethiopians still depend on TM.
Populations in developing countries using TM for
primary health care (WHO, 2004).
90% Ethiopia
70% Benin
70% India
70% Rwanda
60% Tanzania
60% Uganda

5. CONTN’ED
 TM services are not limited to rural areas rather also
has numerous roles in urban areas of the country.
 This reality motivate me to focus on beliefs and
practices of TM in urban contexts like in Addis
Ababa, by taking the roles of THs and their treatment
practice in Gulele sub-city as a case.

6. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
 In developing world in general TM has played a
significant role for a long period of time. This role
has continued even with the emergence and
expansion of MHCF.
 The majority of the African population has a limited
chance of getting MHCSs (Wondwosen, 2005).

7. CONTN’ED
 Ethiopian modern health care services and service
providing institutions are not only insufficient, but also
inaccessible and unaffordable to the majority of the
population (Kebede, 2006:2).
 Even, in urban centers, where the concentration of
modern health care services and modern medicines are
relatively high, THs and their services have a remarkable
contribution as alternative for health care service of
urban inhabitants

8. CONTN’ED
TM has various roles in Addis Ababa. However, in spite of
its potential contributions, it has been limited in urban
contexts. Most researchers were done in rural areas
and many scholars often associate the term ‘traditional’
as a rural issue only.
The few researches such as, Kloos (1973), Wondossen
(2004) and Neghsti (1991) discussed the different
aspects of TM in Addis Ababa. Neither of these studies
give special emphasis to traditional beliefs and
practices of TM in urban areas in Addis Ababa.

9. CONTN’ED
Therefore, this study contributes to the limited literature
on TM, the concept of Health, disease and illness, the
causal explanation of disease and illness, treatment
mechanisms by taking Gulele sub-city of Addis Ababa
as the study population.

10. OBJECTIVES
General Objective
 The general objective of this study was to investigate and
document beliefs and practices of traditional medicine in
Gulele sub-city.
Specific Objectives
 To identify patients’ and healers views about the causes of
disease;
 To explore the main clients of traditional healers and the
reasons they visit them;
 To assess the relations and potential interactions between
traditional healers and their clients, traditional healers and
modern medical system;
 To assess patients’ concept of health, illness, and disease.;
and
 To investigate the roles that healers play in the study area.

11. METHODS AND METHODOLOGY
Study Area
 Addis Ababa is currently divided to ten sub cities.
Gulele sub city one of the sub city. It has
boundaries form the south east with Yeka, form the
south west with kolfe Keranyo, form the south Addis
Ketema and Arada Sub city.

12. RESEARCH APPROACH
 Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were
utilized in this study.
 The quantitative approach was found to be
appropriate since the study was interested to
investigate the diversity among clients. It is used to
answer questions like ‘which age group
predominantly utilizes traditional medicine?’
 Qualitative approach allows to understand the
meanings actors attach to their actions and
experiences. it is the most appropriate approach in
investigating the experiences of clients with
traditional medicine.

13. RESEARCH METHODS
 The study triangulated the methods of survey
research, life history, and oral history interview.
 life history interview- this method was used to
collect data about the biography of the healers.
 oral history interview- this method was employed
for five clients cases. It was employed to make
clients reflect upon specific events or periods in the
past

14. SAMPLING TECHNIQUES
 Three traditional healing centers were purposively
selected based on:
 The healer should have a widespread fame
 The healing center should be visited by multitude of
clients.
 Finally, healers should have their own healing center
with some sort of advertisement.

15. CONTN’ED
 Non-probability technique of convenient sampling
was used to select clients. Because it was found
impossible to get a readily available list of the
population..
 Besides, five cases which reflect the communality
among 52 clients were drawn purposively.
 Finally, Six informants who are working in modern
health care professionals were selected

16. INSTRUMENTS OF DATA COLLECTION
 Questionnaire: A semi-structured questionnaire
was prepared and administered to 52 clients of
traditional healing centers.
 Interviews: In-depth interviews were carried out
with three traditional healers, five clients and six
modern health care professionals.
 Observations: regarding the issue at hand
including diagnostic procedures, drug
administrations and the general interactions
between the traditional healers and their clients.
 Document Analysis: Written patient witnesses
which were documented in one healing centers
were analyzed.

17. METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS
 The quantitative data collected through
questionnaire were analyzed using simple
descriptive statistics. They were organized in
table format and described in frequency and
percentage.
 On the other hand, the qualitative data which were
the backbone of the study were analyzed using
narrative analysis.

18. MAJOR FINDINGS
 People in the study area perceived health as ability to
gain what a person wants to get, balanced relationship
between man and man; man and nature; man and the
supernatural world; ability to perform day to day activities
and responsibilities; leading good life and the absence of
diseases and illness. Hence, more of cultural rather than
WHO definition and conception of health is reflected in
the study area.

19. CONTN’ED
 There are some differences in beliefs between the
traditional healers and patients regarding the immediate
causes of health problems.
-the majority of Patients the cause of health
problems associated with the supernatural/God/ as the
main source of illness
-The traditional healers claimed natural agents as
causes of health problems.
-

20. CONTN’ED
 The clients of healers in the study area are diversified in
sex, religious background and educational level.
 The clients of the healers are multi ethnic TM everywhere
though there is difference in ethnic background.
 Youngster and middle-age people constitute a great
proportion of the user of THs treatments
 For the majority of the clients utilize traditional medicine as a
method of last resort . The shift is mainly motivated by lack of
the desired results and/or shortage of money to continue with
their first therapeutic option.
 All the respondents included in the survey support the
promotion of traditional medical services at the side of
modern medicine

21. CONTN’ED
 THs in the study area have a positive attitude towards
MMHCS.
 In contrast, MMP negative attitude towards THs
 The common diseases within the study area affect
external body parts, especially the skin.
 These skin disorder diseases are treatable by the sub
city healers using common medicinal plants found in
different parts of the country.

22. HAKIM TEKLE TREATING A PATIENT SUFFERING FROM CHIFIE (ECZEMA)

23. CONTN’ED
 Plant products (roots, leaves, barks and
lemon, ), animal products (butter, honey, oil, animal fat)
and Water, sugar, salt and milk used as solvents in
preparation of liquid drugs are found to be the main
source of the medicines prepared by the sub-city
healers.

24. CONTN’ED
 The way to administer herbal medicine by healers
varies according to dosage, forms and their
intended purpose. Ex- powder and ointment for skin
disease, liquid form used for Diarrhea and
inhalation form is also use asthma
 Plant or herbal medicines is the most frequent
means of treatment.

25. CONTN’ED
 The role of Tm in the study area
 THs and the their clients have intimate relationships
 Saving time
 The effectiveness of medicine on some disease
 Fairly negotiable payment

26. CONCLUSION
 Traditional medicine practice has been playing a
pivotal role in the Gulele sub city. Healers whom I
met have an intimate knowledge about plants and
preparation of herbal medicines from the
steam, leaf, roots and/or flowers of plants to use
them to cure different human ailments.
 The present study also demonstrated that most of
the healers do not grow medicinal plants in their
garden. Traditional medicinal plants were collected
mostly from natural vegetation area specially desert
area of the country.

27. CONTN’ED
 Acquisition of their knowledge about the use of
medicinal plants and other traditional medical
practices mainly from their relative and supernatural
power. This indicates that the knowledge is mainly
transmitted through word of mouth from parents and
traditional healers to their successors.
 Diseases which are believed to be effectively treated
by locale healers than professionals. These include
Kintarot,Yewef Beshita(Jaundice), Chefie, Almaz
Balechera, Epilepsy, Skin Cancer etc.

28. CONTN’ED
 The clients of healers are multiethnic. This is clear
indicator of the fact that there is a need for
traditional medicine everywhere though there is
difference in ethnic background.
 Traditional medical practices are condemned by
MHCPs working in MHCI as
backward, superstitious, irrational and dangerous.

29. RECOMMENDATIONS
 Integrating TM and MM is very important for
effective treatment service
 GSCHO should encourage healers to record the
prescriptions of medical plants which have been
proved to cure different ailments.
 Conserving medicinal plants for various purposes
can be achieved by encouraging people to grow
them and by establishing local medicinal plants
gardens in the sub city.
 The MOH should have the will to reconcile the two
systems for integration. The integration of
traditional and modern medicine emphasizes the
importance of respectful co-existence.

30. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 My advisor Abraham Alemu
 Participants of this study
 AAU

31. THANK YOU