Traditional bone setting and trauma care in South-Eastern Chad

Abstract

Background: Traditional bonesetters are the main providers of fracture treatment and trauma care in much of Africa. However, there is a paucity of literature on bonesetters in Chad.
 Objectives: Our study sought to investigate Chadian bonesetter practices, their relationship to the community, and the complex local perspectives on trauma care in Am Timan, Chad.
 Methods: Thirty-three semi-structured interviews were conducted with community members, traditional bonesetters, and physicians in Am Timan using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Responses were coded, categorized, and compared within and across study populations to identify themes.
 Results: Most community members (n=25) interviewed preferred bonesetters for trauma care due to their affordability, continuity and convenience of care, and the community’s fear of Western medical practices. Although the Chadian bonesetters’ fracture management mirrored bonesetters in neighboring African countries, the Chadian bonesetters have a much wider scope of practice, including treatment for both medical and spiritual ailments. Both Jabari (n=6) and physicians (n=2) emphasized the need for more training and collaboration.
 Conclusion: As in much of Africa, bonesetters perform a major role in providing trauma care in Chad. Our research identifies an opportunity to maximize trauma care in Chad through dialogue, training, and collaboration between bonesetters and physicians.
 Keywords: Wounds And Injuries; African Traditional; Orthopedics.

Editorial

“…The child group includes papers on birth asphyxia 59 ; neonatal jaundice 60 exclusive breast-feeding [61][62] ; umbilical cord granuloma 63 , cerebral palsy [64][65] and depression 66 . Others: this contains papers on low back pain 67 ; musculoskeletal disorder among dentists 68 ; and traditional bone setting in Cameroon 69 . There are radiology papers [70][71][72] ; community health workers [73][74][75] and a heterogenous group of papers including dental implants 76 ; renal cysts 77 ; bearing loss 78 biometrics 79 ; medicinal plants 80 and a review of NCDs 81 and thromboembolism 82 .…”