Perspectives and practices of tribal traditional healers on health and health systems across different states of India: Mixed method study

This cross-sectional, mixed methods study is expected to reveal insights into the attitude and knowledge of tribal healers towards the health system and other systems of medicine. Patterns in the diagnostic and curative practices of healers are also expected to be revealed. The study would collect quantitative data using a knowledge attitude survey of traditional tribal healers and an observation based checklist related to healer practices. Qualitative data would be collected using in-depth interviews with tribal healers and ethnographic observations of a small number of healers in different states. Community FGDs are also proposed, to understand community attitudes toward healers.

 a)      Identify different types of traditional healers present in the study states

b)     To identify the range of diseases diagnosed, managed, treated, and referred to health facilities by the traditional healers of the selected states

c)      To describe the ritualistic and non-ritualistic healing practices of traditional healers of selected states in the management and treatment of diseases (voluntarily shared by healers)

d)     To determine the knowledge and attitude of traditional healers on other systems of medicine