Fourteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Traditional healing also called traditional medicine in African societies has been in existence for centuries. It is the most common form of health care in Africa’s traditional societies, Busoga inclusive. In the absence of modern health services, traditional medicine is widely utilised to fill the gap. However, traditional medicine is influenced greatly by the religious and socio-cultural beliefs of those societies in which it is provided and utilised. Two of such beliefs are related to one’s gender and age. Age and gender determine one’s position and status in society; including access to resources and opportunities. In this paper I analyse the ways the Basoga, as a distinct socio-cultural society, view one’s gender and age in provision and utilisation of traditional practice.