Traditional religion and HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

Taking a more scientific look at ritual and medicine in the context of African traditional religion, this paper advocates the mobilization of traditional religious leaders and herbalists in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. It suggests an inculturation of strategies to enhance the effectiveness of national HIV and AIDS control strategies and international actions in support of national strategies. The paper examines the role of traditional religion in health; explaining incurability in a traditional religious context; ritual as a healing technique; the relevance of household and community in the treatment of diseases; the communal health care delivery system; and stigmatization as a taboo in African traditional religion. Ref., sum. [ASC Leiden abstract]