The Role of Spiritual Faith Healers in Reducing or Reinforcing The HIV Stigma: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The role of spiritual faith healers in managing various conditions of ill-health has been studied and debated. The aim of this study was to explore spiritual faith healers' understanding and conceptualisation of HIV/AIDS stigma and the role they play in reducing or reinforcing HIV/AIDS stigma in their communities. A qualitative approach, and in particular, the grounded theory methodology was used. The application of this methodology included personal interviews with eight practising spiritual faith healers in Limpopo Province (South Africa), while additional information was gleaned from the literature review. The researcher focused on the participants' conceptualisation of HIV stigma, from the context of the African world view in order to gain insight into the roles of these spiritual faith healers. The findings indicated that spiritual faith healers tended to show a less positive attitude towards people living with Aids. However, the findings suggest that spiritual faith healers perceive themselves to be having a definite role to play in reducing HIV/ AIDS stigma in their communities. These findings are discussed in the context of South African national policies relating to HIV and AIDS. The study is concluded by suggesting that HIV testing must be compulsory for every person who consults in a hospital. Such a policy move could contribute positively in terms of health promotion.

“We Reach to People Through Different Means”: Factors That Influence HIV Counseling and Testing Among Religious People in Lilongwe, Malawi

“…FBOs embed HIV activities within their health activities or run parallel programs that overlap with other services (Palar et al, 2013). Furthermore, FBOs have jurisdiction over issues of personal behavior, morality, family life, and beliefs through their direct contact with people at various milestones in life (Lesolang, 2014) which remain critical to HIV services. Moreover, FBOs are advantageously positioned to tackle the HIV and AIDS pandemic because they have permanent structures present at the grassroots level in most communities.…”