Traditional healers to improve access to quality health care in Africa

Boum, Yap; Kwedi-Nolna, Sylvie; Haberer, Jessica; Leke, Rose

doi:10.1016/s2214-109x(21)00438-1

Cited by 15 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The accessibility of healthcare would ideally make an impact on people’s health-seeking behaviour while in the emerging world’s population, there is about 80% of reliance on traditional healthcare practices and medicines for therapy, which includes child health. It is reported that about 80% of the black South African population seek healthcare from traditional healers (Mothibe & Sibanda 2019 ), whereas in other African countries such as Ghana, more than 80% of patients were found to have consulted a traditional health practitioner first before they went to a hospital (Nolna et al 2020 as cited by Boum et al 2021 ). The use of African traditional healthcare and medicines plays a large role in the management of different conditions including chronic management and preventative, curative and palliative healthcare, and this is done in a holistic approach (Mothibe & Sibanda 2019 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating traditional and allopathic child health: A healthcare transformation opportunity

Makhavhu

2024

Health SA Gesondheid

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Background: Numerous forums both domestically and internationally have discussed integration of allopathic and traditional healthcare. In South Africa, using traditional child healthcare is popular practice. If properly controlled, integrating this aspect of traditional child-health with allopathic healthcare may be advantageous to communities that use both healthcare systems. Allopathic and traditional healthcare remain separate organisations in South Africa despite efforts and discussions to integrate them.Aim: The study sought to explore the integration of traditional and allopathic child healthcare from the perspectives of children’s caregivers and traditional healthcare practitioners.Setting: The study was conducted in a semi-urban area in the city of Tshwane.Methods: An exploratory qualitative research study was conducted using semi-structured interviews to collect data from 11 traditional healthcare practitioners and 15 children’s caregivers who were sampled using snowball and convenient sampling respectively.Results: The participants expressed their understanding of the usage of traditional healthcare practitioners in the care of children as well as their support for integration, and further indicated its necessity. Religion and its effects in health-seeking behaviour were cited as a factor in why there has not been greater integration between the two healthcare systems.Conclusion: The undocumented and undisclosed use of traditional healthcare potentially hinders the delivery of therapeutic healthcare. As such, integrating the two systems is essential to ensure patients’ safety.Contribution: This article highlights understanding of culture congruence and safe child healthcare that may be brought forward by the integration of the two healthcare systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating traditional and allopathic child health: A healthcare transformation opportunity

Makhavhu

2024

Health SA Gesondheid

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“…Eighty percent of the population in Africa and Asia rely on traditional medicine for their primary healthcare needs [ 62 , 63 ], and 35% of Americans report using traditional medicines [ 64 ]. It is well-documented that PLWH engage regularly with traditional healers in sub-Saharan Africa [ 65 – 67 ], and many have suggested that traditional healers are a largely untapped resource to engage PLWH and improve HIV testing among rural populations [ 68 – 70 ]. In rural Mozambique, traditional healers effectively referred their clients to local clinics for HIV testing; however, only 5% of clients who presented to clinics actually received HIV testing [ 71 ].…”

Section: Community-based Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interventions to Increase HIV Testing Uptake in Global Settings

et al. 2022

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Purpose of Review HIV testing is the critical first step to direct people living with HIV (PLWH) to treatment. However, progress is still being made towards the UNAIDS benchmark of 95% of PLWH knowing their status by 2030. Here, we discuss recent interventions to improve HIV testing uptake in global settings. Recent Findings Successful facility-based HIV testing interventions involve couples and index testing, partner notification, and offering of incentives. Community-based interventions such as home-based self-testing, mobile outreach, and hybrid approaches have improved HIV testing in low-resource settings and among priority populations. Partnerships with trusted community leaders have also increased testing among populations disproportionally impacted by HIV. Summary Recent HIV testing interventions span a breadth of facility- and community-based approaches. Continued research is needed to engage men in sub-Saharan Africa, people who inject drugs, and people who avoid biomedical care. Interventions should consider supporting linkage to care for newly diagnosed PLWH.

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“…There are reported cases, where THPs have been blamed for delayed care of patients who turn up at health facilities with complications that may have been avoided, had they referred patients earlier or if they possessed knowledge and skills to conduct a baseline biomedical assessment. 4 , 5 , 6 Traditional health practitioners have their own methods for diagnosing illnesses, including divination and bone throwing for ancestor guidance during consultations and prayer, as well as their own methods for treating patients, including the distribution of herbs and rituals. 7 Traditional health practices have been used in combination with biomedical knowledge and skills with either satisfactory or opposed outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Traditional health practitioners’ training needs on biomedical knowledge and skills in a South African township

Moeta,

Musie,

Seretlo

et al. 2023

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine

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Background Traditional health practitioners (THPs) play an important role in communities by providing necessary health services for a variety of health problems. Possessing complementary biomedical knowledge and skills is vital in saving lives of patients. However, less is known about biomedical knowledge and skills among THPs. Aim This study aimed to explore and describe the training needs of THPs on biomedical knowledge and skills in urban townships in South Africa. Setting The study was conducted in a township in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality of Gauteng province, South Africa. Methods A qualitative, explorative, descriptive design with 18 THPs was employed through snowballing sampling. Data were collected through a lekgotla group discussion and thematic content analysis undertaken. Results Themes that emanated include knowledge of the basic physiological functioning of the human body; biomedical knowledge and skills required for the assessment of patients; managing emergency health conditions and understanding diagnostic concepts used in traditional health practice versus biomedical systems. Conclusion Traditional health practitioners have demonstrated interest in being trained on certain skills used within the biomedical system to care for patients. Performing the necessary first-aid skills by THPs will assist patients in the communities while waiting for emergency services or referrals. Provision of training programmes for THPs on first aid interventions during emergencies is therefore recommended. Contribution The study revealed that capacitating THPs with biomedical knowledge and skills can improve their ability to promote healthy living and prevent health problems in communities where access to resources is limited.

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Traditional healers to improve access to quality health care in Africa

Cited by 15 publications

References 6 publications

Integrating traditional and allopathic child health: A healthcare transformation opportunity

Integrating traditional and allopathic child health: A healthcare transformation opportunity

Interventions to Increase HIV Testing Uptake in Global Settings

Traditional health practitioners’ training needs on biomedical knowledge and skills in a South African township

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