Etiology and Indigenous Healing Practices of Genu Kisha’a among the Shinasha of Benishangul_ Gumuze Region, Northwestern Ethiopia Northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

 Indigenous medicine is still widely used for preventive and curative purposes for various ailments. Peoples of Shinasha from Bullen districts depend on traditional medicine for their primary health care services since time immemorial. This study investigates the cultural beliefs, local terminologies, and indigenous treatment practices associated with ‘Genu Kisha’a’, an illness associated with the biomedical condition of amoebiasis and other abdominal diseases. Despite the widespread use of traditional medicine, there is a limited understanding of how specific indigenous illnesses like ‘Genu Kisha’a’ are culturally defined and treated. A qualitative research approach with an ethnographic design is employed. In-depth interview, key informant interview, focus group discussion and non-participant observation were used to elicit pertinent data about genu kisha’a. A total of 33 individuals (14 FGD participants and 19 interviewees) took part in this study. The data were thematically organized and triangulated. The finding revealed that Genu kisha’a is understood not merely as a biomedical disorder, but as part of a wider cultural system that interweaves knowledge, morality, and kinship. While its recognition often begins with the observation of symptoms, its significance extends beyond the body, encompassing recurrent disruptions to social relationships and spiritual well-being. Environmental exposures, labor practices, and moral and ritual transgressions, such as breaking food taboos and ancestral norms, are all examples of causative interpretations. Help-seeking in the community primarily follows indigenous pathways, guided by the perceived effectiveness of herbal remedies and trusted family advice. Biomedical and local approaches are often used side by side, with people moving between them based on illness perceptions, accessibility, and effectiveness. In rural Ethiopia, recognizing this pluralism can help design cooperative and socially relevant health initiatives. Culturally sensitive public health strategies that engage with traditional medical wisdom are therefore crucial.