Our Method

Background

Traditional medicine (TM) is defined as the collection of knowledge, skills and practices of a group of people used to diagnose, treat or prevent illness. The practices may be spiritual, herbal (medicinal plants) or physical therapies. All around the world persons are using TM in their personal healthcare. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also noted that TM can help achieve the goal of universal health coverage. It is therefore important for countries to preserve their TM.

Montserratian Traditional Medicine (MTM) has usually been preserved and passed on orally in Montserrat. This can be a problem if there is a major event in the society that interferes with this process. Such an event did occur with the eruption of the Soufrière Hills volcano in July 1995. This eruption started a 3-year period of volcanic activity that caused significant emigration of Montserratians.

There have been several attempts to record MTM in writing including unpublished and published research, books and booklets. However, most of these focused on medicinal plants and none of these have been so detailed that they provide instructions on how to use the MTM practices. Therefore, there is a need to record and preserve MTM in detailed writing so that persons can use it in their personal healthcare.

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Goal of Project

This project aims to record and preserve Montserratian Traditional Medicine (MTM) and to present it in a book that persons can use in personal healthcare. We also hope to understand how MTM varies by the different villages of Montserrat.

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Who can Participate in the Project?

Montserratians 18 years or older who know about MTM can participate in the project.

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What Happens in the Project?

The study team will conduct recorded interviews with participants in person or online via ZOOM. Each participant will be interviewed once with a possible second interview if needed.

During the interview, participants will be asked questions about any MTM practice that they know. Participants will also be given a map of Montserrat and asked to group the villages according to colloquial regional names.

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How can I Participate in the Project?

If you would like to take part in the study, please complete our prospective participant quiz to see if you are eligible.

Take our quiz

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