Belief in divine healing can be a barrier to antiretroviral therapy adherence in Uganda

Wanyama, Jane N; Castelnuovo, Barbara; Wandera, Bonnie; Mwebaze, Patricia; Kambugu, Andrew; Bangsberg, David R.; Kamya, Moses R.

doi:10.1097/qad.0b013e32823ecf7f

Cited by 80 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…This ultimately may influence the extent to which they access and use unconventional treatments. In the African context, religion has a strong connotation with the traditional medical system 35, 36. Students who practice Christian faith were more likely to utilise prayer and faith healing interventions than other students who share belief in other religious denominations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unconventional medical practices among Ghanaian students: A university-based survey

Gyasi

Agyemang-Duah

Mensah

et al. 2017

Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine

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Research on unconventional medical practices among students has proliferated lately in the global space, hitherto, little is known explicitly in Ghana. This paper teases out insights for recent utilisation patterns of traditional medical therapies at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. A sample of 754, randomly selected undergraduates were involved in a retrospective cross-sectional survey. Data were analysed using multivariate logistic regression and Pearson's χ2 test with p < 0.05 as significant. Overall prevalence of traditional therapies consumption was 89.1% in the last 12 months. Herbal-based products (67%), prayer healing (15%) and body-mind therapies (11%) were principally used and, accessed through purchases from pharmacy shops (29%) and encounter with faith healers (26%). Although students' knowledge on traditional therapies was acquired through family members (50%) and media (23%), literary materials remained significant information routes for Science related students compared to the Non-science related counterparts (p < 0.001). Pursuing Non-science-related programme [odds ratio (OR) 6.154 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.745–10.111; p < 0.001)] and having Christian faith [OR 2.450 (95% CI 1.359–4.415; p = 0.003)] were strongly associated with students' traditional therapies use. Although students exhibited positive attitude towards unconventional therapies, there is an urgent need to validate the quality of traditional therapies through randomised clinical trials and regulatory practices to ensure quality control. Health forces should intensify efforts towards intercultural health care system in Ghana.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unconventional medical practices among Ghanaian students: A university-based survey

Gyasi

Agyemang-Duah

Mensah

et al. 2017

Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine

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“…In Malawi, it was found that stigma led to non-retention in 25% of patients on ART [56]. In Uganda, it was found that 1.2% of patients discontinued ART because of a belief in spiritual healing [57]. Programs with home- and community-based services had a lower loss to follow-up rate (1-5%) compared to programs without these services (10-14%) [58-63].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scaling up antiretroviral treatment and improving patient retention in care: lessons from Ethiopia, 2005-2013

Assefa

Alebachew

Lera

et al. 2014

Globalization and Health

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BackgroundAntiretroviral treatment (ART) was provided to more than nine million people by the end of 2012. Although ART programs in resource-limited settings have expanded treatment, inadequate retention in care has been a challenge. Ethiopia has been scaling up ART and improving retention (defined as continuous engagement of patients in care) in care. We aimed to analyze the ART program in Ethiopia.MethodsA mix of quantitative and qualitative methods was used. Routine ART program data was used to study ART scale up and patient retention in care. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with program managers.ResultsThe number of people receiving ART in Ethiopia increased from less than 9,000 in 2005 to more than 439, 000 in 2013. Initially, the public health approach, health system strengthening, community mobilization and provision of care and support services allowed scaling up of ART services. While ART was being scaled up, retention was recognized to be insufficient. To improve retention, a second wave of interventions, related to programmatic, structural, socio-cultural, and patient information systems, have been implemented. Retention rate increased from 77% in 2004/5 to 92% in 2012/13.ConclusionEthiopia has been able to scale up ART and improve retention in care in spite of its limited resources. This has been possible due to interventions by the ART program, supported by health systems strengthening, community-based organizations and the communities themselves. ART programs in resource-limited settings need to put in place similar measures to scale up ART and retain patients in care.

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“…The co-existence of traditional and Christian belief systems has also been described in other countries such as Uganda, Mozambique and South Africa (Edwards, 1983;Pfeiffer, 2005;Teuton et al, 2007). In sub-Saharan Africa, Christian concepts of disease, including its cause and treatment such as prayers, alongside THM have been reported for psychosis, infertility and HIV/AIDS amongst others (Adogame, 2007;Obisesan and Adeyemo, 1998;Teuton et al 2007;Wanyama et al 2007). In the latter, the belief in divine healing may even represent a barrier to antiretroviral therapy adherence (Wanyama et al, 2007).…”

Section: Attitude Of Interviewed People Towards Traditional Healing Mmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In sub-Saharan Africa, Christian concepts of disease, including its cause and treatment such as prayers, alongside THM have been reported for psychosis, infertility and HIV/AIDS amongst others (Adogame, 2007;Obisesan and Adeyemo, 1998;Teuton et al 2007;Wanyama et al 2007). In the latter, the belief in divine healing may even represent a barrier to antiretroviral therapy adherence (Wanyama et al, 2007).…”

Section: Attitude Of Interviewed People Towards Traditional Healing Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitudes towards african traditional medicine and christian spiritual healing regarding treatment of epilepsy in a rural community of northern Tanzania

Winkler¹,

Mayer²,

Ombay³

et al. 2010

Afr. J. Trad. Compl. Alt. Med.

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Most people with epilepsy (PWE) live in developing countries with limited access to health care facilities. In sub-Saharan Africa with approximately 12 million PWE, 90% do not receive adequate medical treatment. In this context, traditional medicine, being easily accessible, plays an important role. However, in subSaharan Africa, studies on the attitude of people (both affected and not affected by epilepsy) towards traditional medicine for treatment of epilepsy are scarce. In this study, 167 people (59 PWE, 62 relatives, 46 villagers) were interviewed at the hospital and in the community with a semi-structured validated questionnaire regarding the prevailing attitude towards traditional medicine for treatment of epilepsy in a rural area of northern Tanzania. Various traditional healing methods (THM) could be ascertained, i.e. traditional herbal medicine, spiritual healing, scarifications and spitting. 44.3% (n=74/167) of the interviewed people were convinced that epilepsy could be treated successfully with THM. Interestingly, 34.1% (n=57/167) thought that Christian prayers could cure the cause and/or treat symptoms of epilepsy. Significantly more PWE and their relatives were in favour of THM compared to villagers not knowing about epilepsy or not being immediately affected by epilepsy (χ 2 -test, p=0.004). Further factors influencing people's attitudes towards THM were gender, tribe, religion and urbanity of people's dwellings. Our study demonstrates that not only THM but also prayers in the Christian sense seem to play an important role in people's beliefs regarding successful treatment of epilepsy. Factors influencing this belief system have been identified and are discussed.

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Belief in divine healing can be a barrier to antiretroviral therapy adherence in Uganda

Cited by 80 publications

References 2 publications

Unconventional medical practices among Ghanaian students: A university-based survey

Unconventional medical practices among Ghanaian students: A university-based survey

Scaling up antiretroviral treatment and improving patient retention in care: lessons from Ethiopia, 2005-2013

Attitudes towards african traditional medicine and christian spiritual healing regarding treatment of epilepsy in a rural community of northern Tanzania

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