![]() The use of traditional and complementary medicines (T&CMs) has increased in recent decades in both the high income countries (HICs) and the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). ![]() THPs diagnose illnesses through various approaches including consultations with spirits, observing patterns of occurrences and events, evaluation of symptoms and signs of illnesses, use of bones from animals/birds and other objects to diagnose illnesses, performing diagnostic rituals, and using biomedical laboratory testing in health facilities. Perceived causes of illnesses included: fate and natural causes, spirits attacks, curses by elders, witchcraft, contagion and infections, poor hygiene, heredity, and malevolent actions. ![]() The majority of respondents reported that most people become THPs through: inheriting healing power from their parents or grandparents transfer of healing powers from senior healers instructions during visions and dreams and, acquiring healing power during spirits possessions. We identified three main themes: (i) how people gain healing power and become traditional health practitioners (ii) perceived causes of illnesses and (iii) how illnesses are diagnosed. Most of the respondents were male, and married. ![]() ![]() Twenty two THPs aged 39–80 years were included in the study. ![]()
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