Moshi, Mainen J.Mgonda, Yassin M.2023-08-112023-08-112006Uiso, F.C., Kayombo, E.J., Mbwambo, Z.H., Mgonda, Y., Mahunnah, R.L. and Moshi, M.J., 2006. Traditional healer's knowledge and implications to the management and control of HIV/AIDS in Arusha, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Health Research, 8(2), pp.95-100.Doi:10.4314/thrb.v8i2.14280http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1114Due do limited coverage of conventional health care services in Tanzania, a number of HIV/AIDS patients are consequently being cared for and managed by traditional healers. Knowledge of 132 traditional healers on HIV/AIDS was assessed through a questionnaire that sought among other things the symptoms that these traditional healers associate with HIV/AIDS. Seventy-seven (61%) healers claimed to be treating HIV/AIDS patients. Twenty-five percent (33 healers) had poor, 52.3% (69 healers) had moderate, 22.7% (30 healers) had good knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Sixty-nine (52%) among the traditional healers mentioned six and thirty (23%) healers mentioned more than six symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS as outlined by the WHO clinical HIV staging system. Almost all the healers were aware that HIV/AIDS is spread sexually and through body fluid contact and claimed that precautionary measures are taken to avoid spread of the disease. Knowledge on HIV/AIDS infection from mother to child during pregnancy, at delivery and through breastfeeding was poor for most healers. It seems most traditional healers meet HIV/AIDS patients in their terminal stages when HIV/AIDS-related opportunistic infections are highly manifest, a situation exemplified by the recorded symptoms that were not specific or directly related to HIV/AIDS. There is a need to impart the appropriate knowledge in the identified deficient areas to avoid possibilities of further spread of the disease through the traditional medicine delivery system Keywords: Traditional healers, knowledge, HIV/AIDS, TanzaniaenTraditional healersKnowledgeTanzaniaArticle