Tanzanian Bone Setter Interview Transcripts June-July 2017

Between June and July 2017, we conducted semi-structured interviews with six self-described traditional bone setters, two each in the Northern Tanzanian regions of Kilimanjaro, Arusha, and Manyara. The bone setters sampled were considered to be key informants based on community perceptions and reputation. Bone setters were interviewed at either their place of work or their home. The interview teams consisted of two to four people, always including at least one foreign and one native investigator and up to two foreign and two native investigators. Interviews were conducted in English by a foreign investigator and live-translated into Swahili or M’aa by a native investigator. Both native and foreign contextual note takers were present during interviews. Interviews lasted between one and two hours and were semi-structured around the topics of background, practices, and views on allopathic medicine for musculoskeletal injuries. Audio and video were recorded for later analysis.
We transcribed verbatim each interview and one investigator subsequently translated them into English. Consent to interview was obtained orally prior to the day of interview and written on the day of the interview. Written consent was obtained by initials or thumbprint depending on literacy. Institutional board review approval was obtained from Tumaini University and Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College.