Traditional Uvulectomy: Origin, Perception, burden and strategies of prevention

SUMMARY: Traditional uvulectomy is a procedure involving partial or total removal of uvula by traditional practitioners. Uvulectomy by traditional practitioners in Africa has been an age-long practice. The procedure still persists in the developing countries probably because of low socio-economic status and non-formal educational level. There are divergent views as to reason for uvulectomy as well as its overall benefit. There have been reported cases of complications after the procedure with subsequent increase in morbidity and mortality. The goal of this paper was to examine the origin of traditional uvulectomy, perception of people, its burden and strategies of its prevention.