University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2004 Traditional healers as agents and leaders of change : an examination of the role of the healer in the time of AIDS Allison Elizabeth Fissel The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Fissel, Allison Elizabeth, "Traditional healers as agents and leaders of change : an examination of the role of the healer in the time of AIDS" (2004). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 6436. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/6436 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. 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TRADITIONAL HEALERS AS AGENTS AND LEADERS OF CHANGE: AN EXAMINATION OF THE ROLE OF THE HEALER IN THE TIME OF AIDS by Allison Elizabeth Fissel B.A. Drew University, 2002 presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts The University of Montana May 2004 Approved by Chairperson Dean, Graduate School Date Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: EP37237 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI* Oi«MKt4ttion P uM w hng UMI EP37237 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQ^sf ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Fissel, Allison E. M.A., May 2004 Anthropology Traditional Healers as Agents and Leaders of Change: An examination of the Role of the Healer in the Time of AIDS. Director: Kimber Haddix McKay, Ph.D. In a region of the world where HIV/AIDS is rampant, Uganda has struggled to survive. However, in the last 10 to 15 years the country has significantly lowered its incidence of HIV. Recent debates in the anthropological and public health fields have emerged, focused on Uganda’s success in dealing with HIV/AIDS prevalence and treatment. For the most part, this debate has remained polarized and has been largely focused on the behavioral and social explanatory paradigms. Using the diffusion of innovations theory, this thesis attempts bridge the behavioral and the social, and highlight the important role of traditional healer within this system. A hybrid diffusion model is used to illustrate how important innovations such as drugs, services, and information flow throughout the social system and change in individual behavior. n Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Acknowledgements I would like to thank the members of my thesis committee: Dr. Herbert Swick, who has offered his time and insight; Dr. Greg Campbell, who has provided me guidance and encouragement throughout my course of study here at the University of Montana; Most importantly, Dr. Kimber Haddix McKay who introduced me to the wonderful country of Uganda, and was instrumental in getting me there! Dr. Haddix McKay has been both a mentor and friend. Above all else, she has greatly influenced my desire to work in applied anthropology. Other individuals within the department should be mentioned as well. I would like to thank my research partner Stacy Russell. While we were not working on the same project, traveling together and sharing the experience of Uganda will never be forgotten. A most gracious thank you goes to Eileen Flannigan for her encouragement and hours of excellent editing skills. I would also like to than Betty Matthews, Jessica Bochart and Ryan Reeves for their daily encouragement and support. It is also important for me to thank individuals in Uganda, whom without their insight this thesis would not be possible. It should be noted that real names of informants have been used with their permission. I am most thankful to the members of PROMETRA- Uganda, who spent a great deal of their time with me and are the primary reason for my decision to stay in Kampala. THETA, another organization in Kampala should also be thanked for allowing me to use their ‘library’ of resources, and also for their time spent with me. I would also like to thank my driver and friend, James, who without, I would have never made it around Kampala! Finally I would like to thank my family and friends, who have supported me throughout my journeys, across the globe and throughout life. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................iii Table of Contents ................................................................................................................iv List of Map and Tables ......................................................................................................v List of Figures..................................................................................................................... vi Introduction.....................................................................................................1 Chapter 1. A Shifting Country ................................................................................ 9 Chapter 2. The Current Debate ..................................................................................23 Chapter 3. Theoretical Position ..............................................................................39 Chapter 4. A Social System....................................................................................50 Chapter 5. Traditional Healers ...................................................................................71 Chapter 6. Traditional Healers as Agents of Change .............................................97 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 112 References Cited.........................................................................................................................................116 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. List of Map and Tables Maps Map 1 Ugandan division of Language Groups ................................................................13 Tables 1.1 Ethnic Diversity found in Uganda as reported by The CIA World Fact Book Online ..........................................................................................12 1.2 Religious Practices found in Uganda as reported by The CIA World Fact Book Online ............................................ 15 1.3 Progression of health care in Uganda throughout different ............................... 20 political time periods 2.1 HIV/AIDS action seen occurring in Uganda. Adapted from Green et al. (2002) ................................................................................................... 28 2.2 Available condoms in African countries (Green 2003c) ....................................35 5.1 THETA Research Showing the Main Traditional Healing in Uganda (THETA 2002).......................................................................................................... 76 5.2. Herbal Chart Showing Various Herbs Used to Treat Specific Ailments .........92 V Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. List of Figures Figures 2.1 Number of socially marketed condoms sold in Uganda. (Green et al. 2002) ...................................................................................................31 2.2. Delayed Sexual Debut Among Primary School Pupils. (Green et al. 2002) ...................................................................................................32 3.1 Rogers’ Diffusion Model (Rogers 1995:11).........................................................41