Practices and Perspectives of Traditional Bone Setters in Northern Tanzania.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Traditional health practitioners remain a critical source of care in Tanzania, more than 50% of Tanzanians frequently using their services. With a severe shortage of orthopaedic surgeons (1:3.3 million Tanzanians) traditional bone setters (TBSs) could potentially expand access to musculoskeletal care and improve outcomes for morbidity as a result of trauma.

Objective

We sought to identify the advantages and disadvantages of traditional bone setting in Tanzania and to assess potential for collaboration between TBSs and allopathic orthopaedic surgeons.

Methods

Between June and July 2017 we interviewed six TBSs identified as key informants in the regions of Kilimanjaro, Arusha, and Manyara. We conducted semi-structured interviews about practices and perspectiv

SUBMITTER: Card EB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7304448 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature