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Abstract Introduction Neurological disorders (ND) have a high incidence in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In this region, systemic challenges of conventional medicine (CM) and cultural beliefs have contributed to a large utilization of traditional medicine (TM). Yet, data on TM and those who use it in the treatment of ND in SSA are scarce. Here, we systematically analyze its role as a therapy modality for ND in Mali, the socio-demographic characteristics of its users, and propose next steps to optimize the dual usages of TM and CM for patients with ND. Methods We conducted a questionnaire study in two phases. In phase one, patients with ND answered questions on their usage of and attitudes towards TM. In phase two, the TM therapists who provided care to the patients in phase one answered questions regarding their own practices for treating ND. Patients were recruited from the country's two university neurology departments. Results 3,534 of the 4,532 patients seen in the Departments of Neurology in 2019 met the inclusion criteria. Among these 3,534 patients, 2,430 (68.8%) had previously consulted TM for their present ND. Patients over 60 years of age most often used TM (83.1%). By education, illiterate patients utilized TM the most (85.5%) while those with more than a secondary education used TM the least (48.6%). An income greater than the minimum guaranteed salary was associated with decreased use of traditional medicine (OR 0.29, CI 0.25–0.35, p

Abstract Background Our recent studies have shown headache disorders to be very common in the central and western sub-Saharan countries of Benin and Cameroon. Here we report headache in nearby Mali, a strife-torn country that differs topographically, culturally, politically and economically. The purposes were to estimate headache-attributed burden and need for headache care. Methods We used cluster-random sampling in seven of Mali’s eleven regions to obtain a nationally representative sample. During unannounced household visits by trained interviewers, one randomly selected adult member (18–65 years) from each household was interviewed using the structured HARDSHIP questionnaire, with enquiries into headache in the last year and, additionally, headache yesterday (HY). Headache on ≥ 15 days/month (H15+) was diagnosed as probable medication-overuse headache (pMOH) when associated with acute medication use on ≥ 15 days/month, and as “other H15+” when not. Episodic headache (on