An exploratory study on becoming a traditional spiritual healer among Baganda in Central Uganda

Dados Bibliográficos

ID19590960
AutoresYahaya Sekagya (0000-0001-9721-7158, Mbarara University of Science and Technology), Charles Muchunguzi (0000-0003-0830-7712, Mbarara University of Science and Technology), Unnikrishnan Payyappallimana (0000-0003-0296-1975, University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology), Payyappallimana Unnikrishnan, Edgar Mulogo (0000-0003-3859-453X, Mbarara University of Science and Technology)
EditoresJulia Robinson (0000-0003-0719-3995)
Ano2024
Volume4
Fascículo4
Páginase0002581
Data de publicação2024-04-25
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
EditoraPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0002581
PMID38662715
OpenAlexW4395481343
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas44

Traditional medicinal knowledge and healing practices of indigenous spiritual healers play important roles in health care, and contribute towards achieving Universal Health Care. Traditional spiritual healers (TSHs) are grouped into three categories. One category of Baganda TSHs, Balubaale , engage ancestral spirits during health management. Balubaale are socially significant but not legally accepted. Their initiation and training practices have not been documented in Uganda. The study purpose was to understand and establish the training of traditional spiritual healers. Twelve (10M, 2F); practicing TSHs in Central Uganda were purposively selected and recruited between 15 th July 2019 and 29 th April 2020, and were prospectively interacted with for 24 months. Transcribed data was coded and thematically analyzed using ATLAS ti. 22 computer software and presented based on an inductive approach. Findings show key areas of TSHs training include connecting with ancestral spirits and the spiritual powers of non-materials and materials such as living and non-living things through rituals. Spiritual healers train in diagnosis and health management based on ancestral spirits and they finally pass out in a communal ceremony witnessed by family and community members. We conclude that TSHs undergo training and are supervised and supported by experienced spiritualists, family and the community. We recommend similar studies among other ethnic groups to contextualize the process of becoming a TSH, compare and harmonize findings to facilitate inter-medical systems communication and policy considerations

Alternative medicine · Ceremony · Ethnic group · Exploratory research · Geography · Health care · Indigenous · Political science · Social science · Sociology · Traditional knowledge · Traditional medicine · Anthropology · Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies · Cultural Competency in Health Care · Global Maternal and Child Health · Law · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology