Academic Journal
Traditional healers' knowledge, experience, and practices related to multiple sclerosis in the Republic of Guinea: A mixed methods study.
| Τίτλος: | Traditional healers' knowledge, experience, and practices related to multiple sclerosis in the Republic of Guinea: A mixed methods study. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Rice DR; Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Center for Global Neurology, Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: dylan.rice@northwestern.edu., Doré M; Department of Neurology, Ignace Deen Hospital, Conakry, Guinea., Mara O; Department of Neurology, Ignace Deen Hospital, Conakry, Guinea., Enkhtsetseg N; Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Center for Global Neurology, Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA., Gebczak C; Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Center for Global Neurology, Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA., Cissé FA; Department of Neurology, Ignace Deen Hospital, Conakry, Guinea., Mateen FJ; Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Center for Global Neurology, Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. |
| Πηγή: | Multiple sclerosis and related disorders [Mult Scler Relat Disord] 2026 Oct; Vol. 114, pp. 107450. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Aug 14. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Elsevier B. V Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 101580247 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2211-0356 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 22110348 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Mult Scler Relat Disord Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: [Amsterdam] : Elsevier B. V. |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Multiple Sclerosis*/therapy , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice* , Medicine, African Traditional*, Humans ; Female ; Traditional Medicine Practitioners ; Guinea ; Adult ; Male ; Middle Aged |
| Περίληψη: | Background: Traditional healers are central to healthcare delivery across Africa and may play an important role in pathways of care for multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly in countries with severe shortages of neurologists. Objective: To characterize traditional healers' knowledge, experience, and practices related to MS in the lower income, Western Sub-Saharan African country of Guinea. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 30 traditional healers were conducted in person via snowball sampling. Interviews were conducted in local languages, transcribed, translated, and analyzed using a structured approach to summarize key domains, including training, knowledge, explanatory models, treatment practices, and referral patterns related to MS. Results: Traditional healers (tradithérapeute) (average age 41 years, 43% women, average duration of practice 12.5 years, 73% with primary or no education) rarely had awareness of MS (20%, n = 6); however, most reported currently treating individuals with vision loss (50%, n = 15) and paralysis/motor weakness (70%, n = 21). Explanatory models for MS disease etiology were primarily spiritual-only (birafouré, illness from unseen supernatural or spiritual forces, or yakouifé, illness from witchcraft or intentional harm; 63%), with 7% endorsing physical-only etiology (gninèfé, illness from bodily/physical causes) and 30% endorsing mixed spiritual-physical beliefs. Treatment approaches included herbal (93%), ritualistic (93%), and religious (60%) modalities. Some practices were injurious. One-third of healers referred patients to physicians; 30% received physicians' referrals. Conclusions: Traditional healers in Guinea frequently encounter individuals with neurological symptoms suggestive of MS or related disorders despite limited formal awareness of MS, representing a pathway for earlier recognition and referral. (Copyright © 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of competing interest Dr. Mateen has received research funding support from Amgen, Genentech, Novartis, EMD Serono, Bristol Myers Squibb, and TG Therapeutics, and consulting fees from Alexion, Amgen, Genentech/Roche, and Novartis. |
| Grant Information: | RF1 TW013269 United States TW FIC NIH HHS |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Africa; Attitudes; Health education; Health knowledge; Multiple sclerosis; Practice; Traditional medicine |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260820 Date Completed: 20260907 Latest Revision: 20260929 |
| Update Code: | 20260929 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.msard.2026.107450 |
| PMID: | 42623730 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 2211-0356 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.msard.2026.107450 |