This study was undertaken to identify the barriers to collaboration and integration of traditional healers into the national health system to improve health outcomes for the people of South Africa. The degree of interaction between TCAM and allopathic modalities in the effective treatment of patients visiting both allopathic practitioners and traditional healers (THPs) is unknown. Therefore, there is a need for a good working relationship between these two different doctors and health systems in order to treat the patients optimally.
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among traditional healthcare providers (THPs) working in the eThekwini Metro and surrounding areas of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The majority of THPs believed that Western physicians and THPs could collaborate, while THPs believed that collaboration between allopathic physicians and THPs would be beneficial to patients. Sixty-eight percent of THPs (117/171) indicated they would be willing to work side by side with allopathic physicians in clinics.
However, THPs reported that if THPs worked with allopathic doctors, then THPs would lose their identity, and if THPs and allopathic doctors worked in the same place, then THPs felt that allopathic doctors would steal their knowledge.
INTRODUCTION
Background and context of the study
Description of the core research problems and its significance
Research Questions of study
Aim of the study
Specific objectives of the study
Description of study area
Methodology
Willingness of traditional health practitioners to collaborate and integrate into
Introduction
Methodology
Results
Discussion
Limitations of the study
Conclusion and Recommendations
Synthesis
Demographics of Traditional Health Practitioners
This study found that the largest percentage of participants were in the 46 to 55 age group with less than 6% of traditional healers in the 19 to 30 age group. This finding is consistent with another study done in Zambia with 2 urban areas where the mean age of THPs was found to be 48 years.1 The predominance of male THPs in the study area of the eThekwini Metropolis and surrounding areas of KwaZulu-Natal is contrasted with 2 other studies. The first study which was conducted in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa found that female THPs outnumbered their male counterparts 2 and the second study conducted in Zambia also reported that female THPs were in the majority compared to male healers.1.
In this study, it was reported that the majority of the THPs had some formal training which is similar to studies conducted in the areas of Arusha and Dar-es-Salaam municipalities in Tanzania and Zambia. In the former study area it was stated that most of the THPs had primary education3 while in the Zambian studies it was reported that most of the THPs were literate.1 However, these findings do not agree with a study conducted in the Limpopo province of SA where it was found that THPs had no formal training.4 Gessler et al. In this study, fifty-five percent of the respondents were currently practicing as full-time workers, which is consistent with the finding of another study conducted in Mankweng, Northern Province of South Africa.
According to experience, most of the traditional healers had 6 to 10 years of work experience. This is similar to a study conducted in Awolowo Market area of Odi-Olowo, Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria where THPs had 6 to 10 years of work experience7 and a study conducted in Shirka District, Arsi Zone, Ethiopia , where it was found that 55% of THPs have less than 10 years of work experience.8. The importance of traditional health workers (THPs) to HIV/AIDS and their collaboration with the Western medical system.
Importance of Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) for HIV/AIDS and their Collaboration
Attitude of Traditional Health Practitioners towards collaboration with Western medical
A study conducted in the Mankweng area of the Northern Province of South Africa found that THPs were willing to work in public health services6 While another study conducted in Nigeria had reported that THPs intended to work with orthodox doctors, if such an opportunity was given to them.7 Other studies conducted in the area of Tutume sub-district Botswana showed that THPs were eager to collaborate with allopathic doctors15 but the allopathic doctors were not ready to collaborate with THPs.16. THPs practicing in Shirka District, Arsi Zone, Ethiopia were also willing to cooperate.8 Another study conducted in Tutume Sub-District, Botswana revealed that THPs believed the biomedical health system was useful in HIV/AIDS treatment and ART can treat HIV/AIDS.15 This may explain why WHO (2010) states that cooperation between the traditional healing and biomedical health systems can help stem many of the disease pandemics that strike the population of Africa. A study conducted in Kilombero Valley, Ukerewe, Bukoba town, Dar-es-Salaam, in Tanzania, showed that THPs referred some of their patients to the hospital for better treatment.5 .Two other studies conducted in Mankweng, Northern Province of South Africa and Zambia reported that most of the THPs had referred patients to modern health sector6 and to BHPs.1 In this study, THPs reported that they did not have specialized equipment to diagnose the patient's illness effectively.
The study conducted in in Kilombero Valley, Ukerewe, Bukoba town, Dar-es-Salaam, in Tanzania, reported that some THPs referred patients to the hospital only for diagnostic tests.5. A further finding in this study that lends support to the THPs wanting to collaborate was the fact that the majority of THPs interviewed (83.3%) felt that they could collaborate with the Western medical practitioners. Sixty-eight percent indicated that they were willing to work with the Western medical practitioners in clinics, this is similar to the findings of the Mankweng, Northern Province study where THPs were willing to work within government health services regardless of location .6 According to the WHO (2007), most governments in Africa strongly believe that THPs can be a valuable resource in communities if they work closely with BHPs in clinics and hospitals.
Some of the reasons given for THPs not welcoming collaboration were shown in a study conducted in a rural area of KwaZulu-Natal, where traditional healers mentioned a lack of respect from Western health services. Despite this experience, they indicated that they would like mental health training and support from a Western-style public health sector and were willing to cooperate in this regard.19 Another study conducted in KZN further described the reluctance of THPs to cooperate, where THP had a mixed attitude towards nurses. In particular, most traditional healers were willing to learn and refer patients to clinics and hospitals, while nurses were not.18 In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, THPs reported that there was no form of collaboration with modern health professionals. the reasons were a lack of motivation to cooperate and communicate with modern health workers. 20.
This survey showed that the majority of THAs want to work with Western physicians and are willing to work with Western physicians in clinics/hospitals. However, some barriers to effective collaboration between THPs and Western physicians were identified. One of these was the difference in educational level, with the majority of THPs having only a basic senior diploma, which affected collaboration due to communication and understanding, allowing them to effectively exchange knowledge with each other.
THPs believe that this difference in patient treatment is far too great, which will affect cooperation. This is also the finding of a study conducted in Amathole district by Rooyen et al., where it was stated that most western doctors have a negative attitude towards THP and their unscientific treatment methods and are therefore unwilling to initiate any kind of collaboration with them.21 .
Limitations of Study
TM is fundamentally a spiritual practice, in which the THPs believe in ancestors and the mode of treatment is mainly herbal/natural in nature.
Conclusions
Recommendations
An investigation into the practices of traditional and religious healers in an urban setting in South Africa. Towards mainstreaming traditional medicine (TM) into the National Health Care Scheme (NHCS): An assessment of the sentiment of TM practitioners in Lagos, Nigeria. Perceptions and practices of modern and traditional health workers on traditional medicine in Shirka District, Arsi Zone, Ethiopia.
Collaboration with traditional healers for HIV prevention and care in sub-Saharan Africa: suggestions for program managers and field workers. Model and experiences of initiating collaboration with traditional healers in the validation of ethnomedicines for HIV/AIDS in Namibia. HIV/AIDS knowledge and practices of traditional health practitioners in Tutume subdistrict: Implications for collaboration in HIV/AIDS care in Botswana.
Are biomedical health workers willing to collaborate with traditional health workers in HIV and AIDS care in Tutume Subdistrict, Botswana. Traditional healers and nurses: a qualitative study of their role in sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and AIDS, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Collaboration between traditional healers and primary care staff in South Africa: developing a useful partnership for community mental health services.
Contribution of traditional healer clinics to the public health care system in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.
Information sheet about the study
Biomedical Research Ethics Authority, Research Office, Westville Campus, Govan Mbeki Building, Private Bag X54001, Durban-4000, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Ulwazi ngocwaningo
Informed Consent Form
Ifomu yemvume/Yokuvuma
QUESTIONNAIRE (English version)
Do you think that if traditional health practitioners (THPs) are working with western doctors in the same country, then western medicine (WM) can steal all the knowledge of traditional health practitioners (THPs). Do you think that Western doctors believe that traditional health practitioners (THP) are not good?
Uhlu lwemibuzo ngesiZulu
Ucabanga ukuthi uma abelaphi bendabuko besebenzisana nabelaphi baseNtshonalanga endaweni eyodwa, izinyanga zisengozini yokulahlekelwa ubuyena. Ucabanga ukuthi uma Abelaphi Bendabuko (ama-THP) besebenza emkhakheni ofanayo nabaphulukisi baseNtshonalanga (WM), abaseNtshonalanga bangantshontsha ulwazi lwabelaphi bendabuko (THPs).
TREE Certificate
BREC Approval
