Traditional healers participate in tuberculosis control in The Gambia.
METHODS
Twenty-three Gambian villages.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility of involving traditional healers in tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment in The Gambia.


METHODS
Twenty-eight traditional healers were educated in the recognition of signs and symptoms of tuberculosis and indications for referral. They administered medications to confirmed cases, and were revisited after 1 year to assess knowledge retention.


RESULTS
Over 6 months, the traditional healers referred 66 suspects, from whom eight cases were diagnosed. All were successfully treated. Twenty-three of 24 traditional healers re-interviewed retained appropriate knowledge; 16 continued to refer suspects.


CONCLUSIONS
Traditional healers can play a positive role in tuberculosis control.
Harper
M E
ME
Department of Tuberculosis, Medical Research Council Laboratories, Banjul, Western Division, The Gambia.
Hill
P C
PC
Bah
A H
AH
Manneh
K
K
McAdam
K P W J
KP
Lienhardt
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005714:Gambia; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*