Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate the extent to
which knowledge management approaches can be used to
manage indigenous knowledge (IK) of corrective and
preventive cares in local communities of Horro Guduru
Wollega zone. This study used descriptive research design
through qualitative research method to collect reliable data
about perception of disease and its main cause, the types of
IK of traditional healthcare practice, indigenous
self-medication and required from traditional healthcare
practitioners. The respondents were chosen from local
communities (traditional healthcare practitioners and
community members) and stakeholders (Health Bureau,
Agricultural Bureau and NGO). Accordingly, 84 key
respondents were chosen through purposive sampling. The
qualitative data was analyzed using thematic content
analysis. The analysis results have shown that, people in the
local community conceptualize disease as the
disequilibrium between body and spirit; whereas God,
ancestral spirit and witches and sorcerers are the main cause
of disease. The above cause’s related diseases can be treated
by using traditional healthcare IK such as by traditional
medicine, physiotherapy treatment and spiritually treatment
by self-medication and traditional healthcare practitioners.
Therefore, there is a need to capture and manage IK of
traditional healthcare practices to save it from loss by local
community, community leader and elders, young
generations, governments, higher education institutions and
researchers.
