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TRADITIONAL HEALERS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF MALARIA IN KISUMU DISTRICT, KENYA
Abstract
Objective: To document the ethnobotanical information on malaria treatment with the goal of
eventually testing the medicinal plant extracts for antiplasmodial activity.
Design: A prospective study.
Setting: Informants from Kisumu city and its environs were gathered at the Kenya Medical Research
Institute, Centre for Vector Biology Control Research, Kisian, Kisumu.
Interventions: Semi-structured Questionnaires were administered to 16 traditional health
practitioners (THPs) to evaluate the THPs’ perceptions and practice relating to causation and
treatment of malaria.
Main Outcome Measures: The THPs described the signs, symptoms and cause of malaria. Details
of the preparation and use of plants for management of malaria were recorded.
Results: Of the 16 respondents 12 (75%) knew that malaria is transmitted by mosquito bite and 12
(75%) recognised the main symptoms as fever. Of the 36 medicinal plants, claimed to treat malaria in
Kisumu, 19 plants were identified at the East African Herbarium, National Museums of Kenya.
Conclusion: The ethnomedical and ethnobotanical data generated form the basis for pharmacological
evaluation of the medicinal plants collected to establish their potential in the treatment of
malaria.
eventually testing the medicinal plant extracts for antiplasmodial activity.
Design: A prospective study.
Setting: Informants from Kisumu city and its environs were gathered at the Kenya Medical Research
Institute, Centre for Vector Biology Control Research, Kisian, Kisumu.
Interventions: Semi-structured Questionnaires were administered to 16 traditional health
practitioners (THPs) to evaluate the THPs’ perceptions and practice relating to causation and
treatment of malaria.
Main Outcome Measures: The THPs described the signs, symptoms and cause of malaria. Details
of the preparation and use of plants for management of malaria were recorded.
Results: Of the 16 respondents 12 (75%) knew that malaria is transmitted by mosquito bite and 12
(75%) recognised the main symptoms as fever. Of the 36 medicinal plants, claimed to treat malaria in
Kisumu, 19 plants were identified at the East African Herbarium, National Museums of Kenya.
Conclusion: The ethnomedical and ethnobotanical data generated form the basis for pharmacological
evaluation of the medicinal plants collected to establish their potential in the treatment of
malaria.
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