Allopathic and traditional health practitioners’ collaboration

Abstract

BackgroundProfessional collaboration between traditional and allopathic health practitioners in South Africa is proposed in the Traditional Health Practitioners Act and could benefit and complement healthcare delivery.ObjectivesTo explore and describe the collaborative relationship between allopathic and traditional health practitioners regarding the legalisation of traditional healing, and these health practitioners’ views of their collaborative and professional relationship, as role-players in the healthcare delivery landscape in South Africa.MethodsA qualitative design was followed. The research population comprised 28 participants representing three groups: allopathic health practitioners (n = 10), traditional healers (n = 14), and traditional healers who are also allopathic health practitioners (n = 4). Purposive and snowball sampling was used. Data collection involved unstructured interviews, a focus group interview and modified participant observation.ResultsResults indicate both allopathic and traditional health practitioners experienced negative attitudes towards each other. Mutual understanding (in the form of changing attitudes and communication) was considered crucial to effective collaboration between these two health systems. Participants made suggestions regarding capacity building.ConclusionsConsidering realities of staff shortages and the disease burden in South Africa, facilitating collaboration between allopathic and traditional health practitioners is recommended. Recommendations could be used to develop strategies for facilitating professional collaboration between traditional and allopathic health practitioners in order to complement healthcare delivery.

Biomedical health practitioners’ views regarding the practices and health care delivery methods of the African indigenous health practitioners’ in Mpumalanga province, South Africa

“…This confirmed the view of [7] onthe issue of untidiness, such as unscientific methods of traditional medicine, lack of hand washing, non-sterile equipment, and lack of measured prescription of traditional medicine according to age and weight of the patient. Patients consulting the African indigenous health practitioners resulted in complications such as diarrhoea, dehydration, poisoning and sores on the body.…”

“…According to [7], mutual understanding between biomedical health and the African indigenous health practitioners was viewed as central and crucial to effective collaboration. To increase acceptance and understanding of their capabilities between thetwo types, participants indicated that they would meet together to resolvedifferences for the smooth running of the service.…”

“…Theincorporation of the two disciplines hadan impact on local communities in accessing their rightsas vested in the Constitution [20],however, despite theWHO's recommendation and the Act,marginalisationpersists [5,6,7], withconcerns expressed that the biomedical group were being forced to collaborate with their African counterparts for the sake of reducing the spread of diseases among the community and preventing abandonment of biomedical treatment.Authors [7][2]and [8]have arguedthat integration isthe cornerstone ofany effective health system,essentialto sharing views regarding the care and treatment of diseasesand givingall involveda similar understanding.…”

The Governance of Traditional Medicine and Herbal Remedies in the Selected Local Markets of Western Kenya.

“…and their drugs affordable as compared to modern medicine [32]. Cooperation between traditional and allopathic practitioners is touted to be beneficial and complementary to health care delivery but often derailed by suspicion [33]. On drug management, toxicity (hepatoxicity and cardiotoxicity) cases in traditional medicine use has been reported though not widely documented [6,25,34].…”

“…The study used a purposive sampling with elements of snow ball in the selection of the key respondents who then recruited other competent respondents into the survey [3,33,71]. All willing respondents were interviewed after obtaining an oral prior informed consent.…”