Traditional mental health practitioners in Gombe: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice

Abstract

Background: There are many studies on the knowledge of, attitude towards and practices of mental health workers towards mental illness in Nigeria. However, there are few studies on the knowledge of, attitude towards and practices of traditional mental health practitioners towards mental illness. Objectives: The present study investigated the knowledge of, attitude and practices of traditional mental health practitioners towards mental illness. Methods: We recruited four traditional mental health practitioners (in a traditional mental healing house) into the study, and used focus-group discussion to explore the knowledge of, attitude towards and practices of traditional mental health practitioners in Gombe, Nigeria. Results: All the participants were married Muslims, aged between 39 and 53 years (mean age of 47 years). They attributed the causes of mental illness to Aljannu (evil spirit/demons), febrile illness and disorientation. Sleep deprivation and “increased power of the blood” were the mechanisms for the causation of mental illness. Conclusion: Traditional healers in Gombe treat most of the patients with mental illness, despite their poor knowledge of the causes and principles of treatment of mental disorders. This calls for increased public awareness of mental illness.