Enquiries involving 165 Yoruba traditional healers revealed that the practice of surgery by these healers is rudimentary. Three traditional bonesetters were visited and interviewed extensively about their methods of diagnosis and treatment of fractures. Treatment sessions of one of the bonesetters were attended by the author and some aspects of his management were photographed.
For major physical diseases, it is widely accepted that
members of the public will benefit by knowing what actions
they can take for prevention, early intervention, and treatment.
However, this type of public knowledge about mental
disorders (mental health literacy) has received much less
attention. There is evidence from surveys in several countries