Guidelines for Training Traditional Health Practitioners in Primary Health Care: STEP I: PLANNING FOR THE TRAINING: D. IDENTIFY THE TYPES OF HEALTH PRACTITIONERS THAT EXIST

Guidelines for Training Traditional Health Practitioners in Primary Health Care
(1995; 86 pages)

Table of Contents

	INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE
	STEP I: PLANNING FOR THE TRAINING
		A. REVIEW EXISTING POLICIES AND REGULATIONS
		B. INVOLVE THPs AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE PLANNING
		C. IDENTIFY THE HEALTH CONDITIONS OF COMMUNITIES
		D. IDENTIFY THE TYPES OF HEALTH PRACTITIONERS THAT EXIST
		E. IDENTIFY SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HEALTH PRACTITIONERS
		F. USE A STANDARD FORMAT TO DESIGN THE CURRICULUM
	STEP II: DETERMINING THE CONTENT FOR TRAINING
		A. IDENTIFY WHAT TRAINEES NEED TO KNOW
		B. TRAIN TO ALLEVIATE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC NEEDS
		C. WRITE SPECIFIC TRAINING OBJECTIVES
		D. DURATION OF TRAINING COURSE
	STEP III: DETERMINING THE TRAINING METHODS
		A. DEVELOP A TRAINING PLAN
		B. CHOOSE APPROPRIATE TRAINING METHODS
	STEP IV: SELECTING TRAINING MATERIALS
		A. REVIEW THE NEEDS FOR AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS
		B. SELECT AV MATERIALS THAT ALREADY EXIST
		C. ADAPT EXISTING MATERIALS
		D. PREPARE YOUR OWN MATERIALS
		E. PRE-TEST MATERIALS BEFORE USING
		F. USE AV MATERIALS EFFECTIVELY
	STEP V: TRAINING THE TRAINERS
		A. TYPES OF TRAINERS
		B. PREPARATION REQUIRED FOR THP TRAINERS
	STEP VI: EVALUATING THE TRAINING
		A. PURPOSE OF EVALUATION IN TRAINING PROGRAMMES
		B. WHO BENEFITS FROM EVALUATION
		C. EVALUATE THE PROGRESS OF A TRAINING PROJECT
		D. METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
		E. ASSESS THE PERFORMANCE OF TRAINERS
		F. EVALUATE THE OUTCOMES OF A TRAINING PROGRAMME
		G. VALUE OF A PARTICIPATORY EVALUATION
	CONCLUSION
	APPENDICES
	REFERENCES

D. IDENTIFY THE TYPES OF HEALTH PRACTITIONERS THAT EXIST

In the four projects studied, there were two general categories of traditional healers:

1. Traditional birth attendants, or midwives

The functions of TBA's have traditionally been to assist pregnant women with birthing and sometimes to provide prenatal care. With training, these functions can be greatly expanded to include services such as routine pre- and post-natal care, nutrition, referrals, record keeping and family planning. The specific content of these duties is described more fully in Step II.

2. Herbalists, bonesetters, and spiritualists

The functions of herbalists, bonesetters, spiritualists, and other types of healers are much more varied, depending upon the specific type of healing performed and the culture and geographic region in which they practice. Herbalists and bonesetters use a wide variety of medicinal plants and other remedies. Spiritualists draw from a variety of faiths and spiritual beliefs. And many of these practitioners will combine one or more of these practices.

A common denominator among many healers is their use of medicinal plants in their treatments. This common factor can be used as a base for improving their skills in identifying herbal plants, collecting and preserving specimens in sanitary ways, and prescribing and utilizing medicines in safe and consistent ways.