Use of traditional and complementary health practices in prenatal, delivery and postnatal care in the context of hiv transmission from mother to child (PMTCT) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract

The aim of this study was as part of a baseline assessment in PMTCT in the traditional health sector: a) to determine the views of women who have used the services of traditional practitioners before, during and/or after pregnancy, and b) to conduct formative research with traditional health practitioners (THPs), i.e. herbalists, diviners and traditional birth attendants (TBAs) on HIV, pregnancy care, delivery and infant care. The sample included a) 181 postnatal care clients with a child less than 12 months interviewed at postnatal clinic visits from 20 primary care clinics in the Kouga Local Service Area (LSA), Cacadu district, Eastern Cape, and b) 54 traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and 47 herbalists and/or diviners were interviewed from Kouga LSA. Results showed that THP (in particular TBAs and to a certain extend herbalists/diviners) play a significant role in pregnancy and postnatal care, and also with the assistance of delivery. Certain HIV risk practices were reported on the practice of TBAs. THPs also seem to have some role in infant feeding and family planning. THPs should be trained in optimising their services in pregnancy and postnatal care, and preparation for health facility delivery. In addition, they should be trained on HIV risk practices, HIV/AIDS, HIV prevention including PMTCT, infant feeding and family planning.

Complementary and alternative medicine use: Results from a descriptive study of pregnant women in Udi local Government area of Enugu state, Nigeria

“…Very few visited deities in order to enjoy the CAM practices required. These findings support reports of past studies which stated that women consulted CAM practitioners during pregnancy for some pregnancy related reasons [11, 13, 22]. The result of this study also identified that a small but significant number of women used their CAM through direct insertion of remedies such herbs in to the vagina.…”

Indigenous practices of pregnant women at Dilokong hospital in Limpopo province, South Africa

“…Peltzer et al (2009:159) confirm that traditional healers are usually the first professionals consulted by people with health problems and the healers will tell them about the restrictions during pregnancy, as they are more accessible geographically and providing a culturally accepted treatment.…”

“…Mulaudzi and Ngomane (2003:23) indicate that 80% of black Africans depend on THPs for care because of poverty and inaccessibility to health facilities. The study conducted by Peltzer, Phaswana-Mafuya and Treger (2009:159) points out that THPs use IPs either to prevent or to heal childhood illness. With this background, the researcher was motivated to conduct a scientific research study about the indigenous practices (IPs) of pregnant women at the Dilokong hospital of the Greater Tubatse municipality in Limpopo province.…”

Engagement of Traditional Healers and Birth Attendants as a Controversial Proposal to Extend the HIV Health Workforce

“…Alternatively, healers can facilitate an early diagnosis by referring suspected HIV-infected patients to testing centers [27]. Healers, if properly trained and motivated, can act as a screening system for serious infectious and chronic illnesses among their patients [3, 27, 49-51]. In addition to their timely referral, healers could be a resource for clinicians and provide pertinent details about patients’ medical history that may point to a diagnosis.…”

“…By engaging healers, there is concern that healer engagement is harmful through co-administration of potentially hepato- and/or nephrotoxic agents with deleterious drug-ART interactions [3, 4, 8, 44-47, 51]. For example, Hypoxoside , specifically H. hemerocallidea and H. colchicifolia are popular herbal remedies in SSA used as immunostimulants for PLHIV [47].…”