Healer-driven ethnoveterinary knowledge diffusion among semi-nomadic pastoralists in Karamoja, Uganda
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Date
2008
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Afrika Focus
Abstract
Karamojong, semi-nomadic pastoralists of Uganda, rely on indigenous knowledge (IK) for their
own healthcare and their livestock's. It is important to preserve, promote and protect IK, in order
to keep it from disappearing. One way is to facilitate its diffusion. The aim of this study was to compare
the status of ethnoveterinary knowledge (EVK) in three unrelated communities to investigate
whether organised healer-promoted EVK is more easily diffused and to what extent. This study
applies a 'knowledge, attitude and practices' (KAP) survey to measure EVK application relating to
twelve livestock diseases and sixteen remedies in different communities. Only in the community of
Nabilatuk do registered healers regularly meet for participatory EVK sharing and afterwards pass
on ideas to neighbours. Participants from the Lorengedwat community rarely interact with Nabilatuk
while the interviewees of the Kaabong group have had virtually no chance to interact with
the two other communities. In total 180 people (60 per site) were interviewed. Data were analysed
in relation to distance from the healers' association; this significantly influenced EVK scores.
Overall Nabilatuk scores were higher than those obtained in both other villages, while Lorengedwat
was higher than the most distant and remote community ofKaabong. This indicates that organised
healers have been effective in divulging their information and in promoting EVK diffusion.
Description
Keywords
Ethnoveterinary knowledge, Indigenous knowledge, Knowledge diffusion, Karamoja
Citation
Gradé, J., Weladji, R., Tabuti, J., & Van Damme, P. (2008). Healer-driven ethnoveterinary knowledge diffusion among semi-nomadic pastoralists in Karamoja, Uganda. Afrika Focus, 22(1), 57-75.