Indigenous and biomedical health practitioners: Application of health communication in facilitating a cooperation to improve healthcare in Southwest Uganda

Gaining access to adequate healthcare is difficult for populations in rural Ugandan communities. Evidence demonstrates that cooperation between biomedical health practitioners (BHPs) and indigenous health practitioners (IHPs) may be an effective method of increasing the availability and quality of healthcare coverage in rural communities. This study evaluates 1) the illness experiences of community members who are care takers of children five and under in rural areas of Southwest Uganda who have sought healthcare from IHPs and/or BHPs, and 2) the feasibility of cooperation between BHPs and IHPs in the area, with the ultimate goal of improving quality healthcare coverage in Southwest Uganda.

Community members participated in mixed methodology questionnaires and key-informant interviews to share their family's health history, experience seeking care from IHPs and BHPs, and willingness to participate in collaborative care. IHPs and BHPs responded to mixed methodology questionnaires, focus group discussions and key-informant interviews. Respondents shared their attitudes regarding the effectiveness of indigenous and biomedical health practices, propensity to collaborate with one another, and their experience with pervasive childhood illnesses. Lastly, non-participant observations of provider-patient interactions were conducted to assess the healthcare dynamic and the health-seeking experiences of community members.

This research demonstrates the value of health communication theory and models in 1) understanding illness experiences of rural community members, 2) evaluating how the reception of illness complaints by healthcare providers shapes health-seeking behavior, and 3) demonstrating the urgent need to adopt a biocultural approach when developing and implementing public health initiatives in Southwest Uganda.