Traditional healers may cause dangerous delays

Smyth, Alan; Martin, Michael; Cairns, James

doi:10.1136/bmj.311.7010.948

Cited by 15 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Patients who reported ever using traditional medicine experienced less time to treatment initiation. This finding challenges assumptions that use of traditional healers hinders entry into formalized medical care [28, 29]; a possible explanation is that consideration of traditional medicine use is a marker of health-seeking behavior more generally. Patients with rapidly progressing symptoms and advanced disease entered into specialized care earlier, perhaps because the patients were more likely to seek care and/or the local clinics were more likely to refer the patient to specialized oncology departments; however, this association should be examined further.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Predictors of Timely Access of Oncology Services and Advanced-Stage Cancer in an HIV-Endemic Setting

et al. 2016

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This study explored predictors of timely oncology care and whether being engaged in the medical system for HIV care improved time to access. According to records and interviews of cancer patients in Botswana, the median time from first symptom to specialized oncology care was 13 months. HIV status did not affect time to oncology care; however, advanced cancer stage and use of traditional medicine/healers was associated with earlier oncology access.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Predictors of Timely Access of Oncology Services and Advanced-Stage Cancer in an HIV-Endemic Setting

et al. 2016

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“…1,3 In sub-Saharan Africa, researchers have found that healers delay patient treatment of HIV and they may also transmit HIV through use of unsterilized razors for traditional skin-cutting practices. [4][5][6] There are reports of healers prescribing risky treatments in order to lift curses or spells. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] With the expansion of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) throughout the country, supported largely by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund, the authors sought insight into the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and behaviors of traditional healers in rural Mozambique.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

HIV/AIDS-Related Attitudes and Practices Among Traditional Healers in Zambézia Province, Mozambique

Audet

Blevins

Moon

et al. 2012

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

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It was found that the HIV-related practices of traditional healers probably increase risk for both HIV-infected and uninfected persons through delayed care and reuse of razors. Mozambican traditional healers attribute HIV pathogenesis to spiritual, not infectious, etiologies. Healers who had received prior HIV training were no more knowledgeable, nor did they have better practices. The willingness expressed by 4 in 5 healers to engage local formal health providers in HIV/AIDS care suggests a productive way forward, though educational efforts must be effective and income concerns considered.

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“…In response, some researchers and policy makers have highlighted the dangers associated with incorporating traditional healers in the management and treatment of diabetes, while others have positioned traditional healers as potential assets to the health care system if they get adequate training and guidance. Some of the dangers identified in the literature include the risk of severe complications due to delayed diagnosis and treatment, deleterious practices involving the use of ineffective and toxic herbal remedies, and undermining the effectiveness of biomedical management of disease ( 28 ).…”

Section: Challenges Associated With Diabetes Prevention Treatment Amentioning

confidence: 99%

The post-2015 development agenda for diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa: challenges and future directions

Renzaho

2015

Global Health Action

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BackgroundDiabetes is one of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which is rising significantly across sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries and posing a threat to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the SSA population. The inclusion of NCDs into the post-2015 development agenda along with the global monitoring framework provides an opportunity to monitor progress of development programmes in developing countries. This paper examines challenges associated with dealing with diabetes within the development agenda in SSA and explores some policy options.DesignThis conceptual review draws from a range of works published in Medline and the grey literature to advance the understanding of the post-2015 development agenda and how it relates to NCDs. The paper begins with the burden of diabetes in sub-Sahara Africa and then moves on to examine challenges associated with diabetes prevention, treatment, and management in Africa. It finishes by exploring policy implications.ResultsWith regards to development programmes on NCDs in the SSA sub-continent, several challenges exist: 1) poor documentation of risk factors, 2) demographic transitions (rapid urbanisation and ageing), 3) the complementary role of traditional healers, 4) tuberculosis and the treatment of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome as risk factors for diabetes, 5) diabetes in complex emergencies, 6) diabetes as an international development priority and not a policy agenda for many SSA countries, and 7) poorly regulated food and beverage industry.ConclusionFor the post-2015 development agenda for NCDs to have an impact, sufficient investments will be needed to address legislative, technical, human, and fiscal resource constraints through advocacy, accountability, political leadership, and effective public–private partnership. Striking the right balance between competing demands and priorities, policies, and implementation strategies hold the key to an effective response to diabetes in SSA countries.

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Traditional healers may cause dangerous delays

Cited by 15 publications

References 1 publication

Predictors of Timely Access of Oncology Services and Advanced-Stage Cancer in an HIV-Endemic Setting

Predictors of Timely Access of Oncology Services and Advanced-Stage Cancer in an HIV-Endemic Setting

HIV/AIDS-Related Attitudes and Practices Among Traditional Healers in Zambézia Province, Mozambique

The post-2015 development agenda for diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa: challenges and future directions

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