ArticleInternational health2020
'I treat it but I don't know what this disease is': a qualitative study on noma (cancrum oris) and traditional healing in northwest Nigeria.
Article in International health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed.
- Clinical Diagnosis of Acute Noma: Essential Infection Markers and Clinical Presentations.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2025Article
- Knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare workers towards noma in Zambezia, Mozambique.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025Article
- Maganin Gargajiya: Assessing the Benefits, Challenges, and Evidence of Traditional Medicine in Nigeria.Cureus · 2024Review
- Tuberculosis management and referral practices among traditional medicine practitioners in Lagos, Nigeria.Journal of public health in Africa · 2023Article
- Noma: a PubMed-based informetric analysis of a neglected tropical orofacial disease in Nigeria.Sudanese journal of paediatrics · 2023Article
- Economic and Social Costs of Noma: Design and Application of an Estimation Model to Niger and Burkina Faso.Tropical medicine and infectious disease · 2022Article
- Noma staging: a review.Tropical medicine and health · 2022Review
- Noma (cancrum oris): A scoping literature review of a neglected disease (1843 to 2021).PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2021Article
- Model of care, Noma Children's Hospital, northwest Nigeria.Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH · 2021Article
- Why is noma a neglected-neglected tropical disease?PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2020Article
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13 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundNoma, a neglected disease mostly affecting children, with a 90% mortality rate if untreated, is an orofacial gangrene that disintegrates the tissues of the face in <1 wk. Noma can become inactive with early stage antibiotic treatment. Traditional healers, known as mai maganin gargajiya in Hausa, play an important role in the health system and provide care to noma patients.
methodsWe conducted 12 in-depth interviews with caretakers who were looking after noma patients admitted at the Noma Children's Hospital and 15 traditional healers in their home villages in Sokoto state, northwest Nigeria. We explored perceptions of noma, relationship dynamics, healthcare practices and intervention opportunities. Interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed and translated. Manual coding and thematic analysis were utilised.
resultsTraditional healers offered specialised forms of care for specific conditions and referral guidance. They viewed the stages of noma as different conditions with individualised remedies and were willing to refer noma patients. Caretakers trusted traditional healers.
conclusionsTraditional healers could play a crucial role in the early detection of noma and the health-seeking decision-making process of patients. Intervention programmes should include traditional healers through training and referral partnerships. This collaboration could save lives and reduce the severity of noma complications.
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