224427 Indigenous and biomedical health practitioners: Application of health communication in facilitating a cooperation to improve healthcare in Southwest Uganda

Monday, November 8, 2010

Tesfa Alexander, PhD , Office of Health Communication & Education, Center for Tobacco Products/FDA, Silver Spring, MD
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.

Learning Areas:
Communication and informatics
Diversity and culture

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe and compare 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. 2. Describe the cultural values and themes that shape the health-seeking behavior of community members who are care takers of children five and under in rural areas of Southwest Uganda. 3. Identify communication strategies that can be used to 1) understand the illness experiences and health-seeking behaviors of rural community members who are care takers of children five and under in Southwest Uganda, and 2) create and sustain a cooperation between IHPS and BHPs in the area.

Keywords: International Health, Communication

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract Author on the content I am responsible for because I was instrumental in the study design and implementation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.