Utilization Of Shamanistic Services For The General Ailments In The Eastern Region Of Nepal

Medicine, to the western mind, is based on the notion that science, with its methodology of research and experimentation, is potentially capable of combating any sickness and curing any disease. (Blustain, Harvey S, 1976)¹

Objective: This study was designed to explore the practices of shamanistic services for the illness in the population and trace the plausible reasons for doing it.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed where total of 1985 women of reproductive age were interviewed face to face covering 10432 total population. The population surveyed was rural area in the six districts of Eastern Nepal.

 

Results: Substantial families were found to be utilizing the services of faith healers especially for the indigenously defined diseases which are attributed to evil forces or god and goddess. Modern health service utilizers gave the reason of service satisfaction, traditional healers gave the reason of tradition and beliefs and risky service utilizers gave the reason of affordability and accessibility for utilization of the services. Diseases defined indigenously were found to be cured effectively that disease having somatic origin among the illnesses treated by shamans.   

 

Conclusion: Despite of various efforts by government in delivering the basic health care in the community, large proportion of people in the rural area are still utilizing the services of faith healers and believed firmly that some indigenously defined illnesses are cured effectively. A Multidimensional study on these people and their healing practices can explore the rationale behind utilization and relevancies of their services in modern health care which will ultimately help to combat the evil of health life in the Eastern region.