Exploring the impact of economic and sociopolitical development on people’s health and well-being: A case study of the Karanga people in Masvingo, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Through an exploration of the collapse of the Zimbabwean health delivery systems during the period 2000–2010, this article examines the Karanga people’s indigenous responses to utano (health and well-being). The first section explores the impact of Zimbabwe’s economic and sociopolitical development on people’s health and well-being. The next section foregrounds the ‘agency’ of the Karanga community in accessing and facilitating health care, especially their utilisation of multiple healthcare providers as well as providing health care through indigenous remedies such as traditional medicine and faith-healing. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 which aspires to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, the concluding section offers insights for developing an indigenous Karanga theology of utano utilising communal resources and illustrating that the concept of ‘development’ should not be confined to rigid Western development perspectives.

The Importance of Considering Religious and Spiritual Ontologies in the Care of HIV Patients in Zimbabwe - A Scoping Literature Review

“…This process was repeated and refined until both researchers agreed with the result. [14,35] Prophets intercede between living and Spirit world and can drive out demons that cause illness [30,36] Ultimate goal of church is spiritual health of its members [33,36] Church has a healing mandate [37] Church considered alternative health care system [25,36] metaphysical explanations for health give church control of members' health [36] Christian Hospitals and Churches cared for PLWHIV from Beginning=role model for government [25,35] Missions played important role in care of rural HIV patients [37] Codes Key Findings Studies Church did not reach out to apostolic sect members [25] Church networked with authorities -police turns a blind eye on crimes in within churches (e.g. child marriages) [38] Church silent on socio-cultural issues (intimate partner violence) [39] Churches' influence on sexual & health seeking behaviour different beliefs, teachings and practices on sexual & health seeking behaviour [32] Christian teachers required to teach abstinence [26,37] Less sexual partners among Christians [32] No teaching about contraceptive use for adolescents [38] No contraceptive use for some [30] The anti-medical approach of the Johanne Marange Church has been weakened by FBO interventions [27] Sex outside marriage is sin [ [37] Economic decline and poor health systems lead to mushrooming of faith healing ministries and revival of TP [33] Difficult for working men to take medicine in time [51] Confidentiality breached by health workers [17,57] Non-conformity to social rules leads to social isolation [17,55] Little collaboration between the three health care systems [20,48] Category: Challenges for engaging R/S Stakeholders Compromising c...…”

“…child marriages) [38] Church silent on socio-cultural issues (intimate partner violence) [39] Churches' influence on sexual & health seeking behaviour different beliefs, teachings and practices on sexual & health seeking behaviour [32] Christian teachers required to teach abstinence [26,37] Less sexual partners among Christians [32] No teaching about contraceptive use for adolescents [38] No contraceptive use for some [30] The anti-medical approach of the Johanne Marange Church has been weakened by FBO interventions [27] Sex outside marriage is sin [ [37] Economic decline and poor health systems lead to mushrooming of faith healing ministries and revival of TP [33] Difficult for working men to take medicine in time [51] Confidentiality breached by health workers [17,57] Non-conformity to social rules leads to social isolation [17,55] Little collaboration between the three health care systems [20,48] Category: Challenges for engaging R/S Stakeholders Compromising care Delays due to certain health beliefs [20] Healers claim to heal HIV and ask to stop ART [12,20] Church elders not allowed to take medication [12] No teaching of contraceptive use for adolescents [57] Sexuality is taboo subject in Churches [57] Religion forbids divorce for wife of unfaithful husbands [54] deviance-responsibility: Work hard, be good, have faith and you will be cured -individual is in control [27] Opposition to allopathic approach because procedure in health-centers lack religious aspect [43] [18] Allowing traditional and western medical systems to coexist [18,43] to supplement the care to fulfil psycho-socio-spiritual needs [18,20,53] collaboration needed to perf...…”