5

Traditional medical practice

in Africa

Gillian Scott

Introduction

Continental Africa currently comprises some 52 states. This chapter focuses
on traditional medical practice (TMP) in states comprising the eastern,
western and southern African regions (Figure 5.1), roughly equivalent to the
World Health Organization (WHO) African region. These 46 states lie
between 20ºN and 32ºS and support vegetation ranging from lowland rain
forest to semi-desert succulent scrubland (Figure 5.2).
The 10 most common causes of morbidity in the WHO African region
are HIV/AIDS, malaria, lower respiratory tract infections, childhood
diseases, diarrhoeal diseases, perinatal conditions, unintentional injuries,
neuropsychiatric disorders, maternal conditions and road traffic accidents.
Of these, the first seven are also among the ten most common causes of
mortality in the region, together with malignant neoplasms, cerebrovascular
disease and ischaemic disease. In most states of the region, patients seeking
treatment with traditional medicine (TM) generally present with conditions
related to morbidity, including malaria, HIV/AIDS and associated oppor-
tunistic infections, diarrhoeal disease, childhood illnesses, reproductive
health problems, asthma, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes,
hypertension, sickle cell anaemia and epilepsy.^12
With two exceptions (Liberia and Ethiopia), all African states have at
some period of their history been governed by European powers. One of the
products of colonial occupation was the introduction to Africa of the
western allopathic system of medicine. The traditional medical practices of
the continent, despite their ancient origins, were largely ignored by colonial
authorities. Traditional practitioners (TPs), although highly respected
members of their communities, played almost no role in the establishment
of formal healthcare systems in Africa. This state of affairs can, in part, be