Preference and perception of traditional Somali health practice, ‘Guboow’, among Somali mothers for children’s health

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine Somalia mothers' preferences and perceptions regarding the traditional healing practice "Guboow" for the children's health in Somalia. The study was conceptually informed by the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), which explains how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control influence health-related behaviours. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire which consists of questions about sociodemographic data, current use of Guboow in children, the reasons for its use in children and perception of Guboow, as well as how mothers' beliefs and social influences affect their practices and perceptions related to Guboow. RESULTS: A total of 168 Somalia mothers were included in the study in the pediatric outpatient clinic of a hospital in Mogadishu, East Africa, between December 2022 and January 2023 of which 117 (69.6%) admitted to using Guboow for their own children's health. The most preferred condition for Guboow was pain in children (n = 70, 42%). The reasons for Guboow reported by the mothers were easy to access (n = 148, 88%), affordability (n = 129, 77%), perceived effectiveness (n = 92, 55%), lack of hospital nearby (n = 86, 51%) and social constraints (n = 81, 48%). Mothers who used Guboow for their own children believed that "Guboow was better than modern medical treatment" (p = 0.001), "Guboow had no adverse events" (p = 0.001), and "Guboow was not harmful" (p = 0.009). Mothers who believed Guboow was harmful (68.3%) did not recommend it for the others (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: In this study, positive perceptions of Guboow were significantly higher among Somalia mothers who reported using the practice for their children's health compared with mothers who did not prefer it. Understanding these ethno-social and cultural determinants may help health policymakers develop culturally sensitive child health interventions and community education strategies.