Aitururu (Sadness): variation of idioms of distress among the Iteso

Abstract

Distress in local words, is often polysomic and dynamic, with continuous transformation due to historical and cultural processes. Aitururu, a term from the Iteso community in Uganda can be used to show how deep-seated the current idioms of distress are in their social-cultural practices. This research therefore sought to establish how the Iteso in Soroti District perceive, manifest and control Aitururu. This is a qualitative study that used purposive sampling to recruit participants within the communities of the Soroti Peri-urban area including Obuku cell, Pamba, Nakatunya and Soroti Hospital. In this study, 22 participants were involved and interviews in the form of in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions were used and data was analyzed thematically. The findings revealed four main themes related to Aitururu include: 1) Meanings the Iteso attach to Aitururu 2) Other idioms used to communicate distress; 4) Contexts where Aitururu is used, and 4) Intuitive Cultural expressions where the Aitururu might be used. The findings of each theme offered the gist of cultural and emotional appreciations, fears, sorrows and understandings among the Iteso people. At the end of the study, the author noted that it is only possible to comprehend Aitururu by possessing cultural competence and cultural sensitivity towards mental health intervention. Native methods of addressing mental health as well as traditional methods of addressing emotional problems within the community should be adopted in the modern style of treatment of outpatients in this community.