South Africa's Health: Traditional healers in South Africa: a parallel health care system

Kale, Rajendra

doi:10.1136/bmj.310.6988.1182

Cited by 140 publications

(135 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The government of South Africa supports these developments, although realising them in practice is no easy task. Estimates of traditional medical practitioners in South Africa are between 150.000 and 350.000, while the number of biomedical doctors is around 25.000 (Kale, 1995). Legislation is delayed and collaboration on equal footing is still far from being achieved (HST, 1999).…”

Section: Policiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Traditional medicine in late pregnancy and labour: perceptions of <i>kgaba</i> remedies amongst the Tswana in South Africa

Kooi

Theobald

2005

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

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In South Africa most black women use antenatal care services and deliver in clinics, and a considerable number complement this use of formal health services with traditional medicine. This study reported here examined the knowledge, beliefs and practical experiences of pregnant women, traditional healers and midwives with regard to kgaba (traditional medicine) and explored what constitutes kgaba. Interviews (N=30) and focus group discussions (N=21) were carried out among participants in Mogwase district in the North West Province of South Africa, where the use of kgaba remedies is commonly believed to cause foetal distress and an increase in caesarean sections. Findings indicated that kgaba remedies are ingested not only to prevent or solve physical problems but are also perceived as valuable in protecting against the harm that evil spirits can cause during pregnancy. Experiences with kgaba differed among participants and this may relate to the variety of plants used, their preparation and dosage. The use of crushed ostrich eggshell, which is perceived as inducing labour, emerged as an important finding. The use of kgaba as perceived by the Tswana is an important component in the experience of pregnancy and labour. However, communication about the use of kgaba between pregnant women and health staff was poor and hinders reporting or recording of dosage and evaluation of effects. There is a need to develop strategies that promote open dialogue between health providers and communities on the use of traditional medicine. Key words: traditional medicine, labour, ethnopharmacology, South Africa Terms usedIn this study the term traditional medicine (TM) is used for medicines of plant, animal or mineral origin, which are taken orally. The definition of tradition healer (TH) includes both diviners, who use bone throwing for diagnosis, and herbalists. Nowadays the distinction between these two healers is not always clear and they may be combined.

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Section: Policiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Traditional medicine in late pregnancy and labour: perceptions of <i>kgaba</i> remedies amongst the Tswana in South Africa

Kooi

Theobald

2005

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

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“…In the early 1990s it was estimated that over 200,000 traditional healers (inyangas) and diviners (sangomas) practised in South Africa versus 25 to 30,000 'modern' doctors (Kale, 1995). Mid-1990s estimates surmise that there were 18,000 traditional medical practitioners / healers (TMPs) in Soweto alone (Williams, 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stuips, spuits and prophet ropes: The treatment of abantu childhood illnesses in urban South Africa

Preez

Cameron

Griffiths

2009

Social Science & Medicine

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“…Estimates of THPs in South Africa vary between 150, 000 and 350, 000, while the number of conventional doctors is around 25, 000 (Kale, 1995(Kale, :1182(Kale, -1185 Traditional medicine encompasses plants and animal products. According to Wynberg (2002:233) South Africa stands proud as the third most biologically diverse country in the world, containing between 250, 000 and 1, 000 000 species, many of which are endemic (World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 1992).…”

Section: Importance Of Traditional Medicine In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Traditional health practitioners' practices and the sustainability of extinction-prone traditional medicinal plants

Magoro

2010

International Journal of African Renaissance Studies - Multi-,

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For centuries Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) used their indigenous knowledge (IK) in conserving medicinal plants and environments to maintain sustainability. With the rapid environmental, social, economic and political changes occurring in many areas inhabited by rural people exist the danger that the loss of biodiversity from habitat destruction and unsustainable harvesting practices will result in some species becoming extinct. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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South Africa's Health: Traditional healers in South Africa: a parallel health care system

Cited by 140 publications

References 3 publications

Traditional medicine in late pregnancy and labour: perceptions of <i>kgaba</i> remedies amongst the Tswana in South Africa

Traditional medicine in late pregnancy and labour: perceptions of <i>kgaba</i> remedies amongst the Tswana in South Africa

Stuips, spuits and prophet ropes: The treatment of abantu childhood illnesses in urban South Africa

Traditional health practitioners' practices and the sustainability of extinction-prone traditional medicinal plants

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