Experience of initiating collaboration of traditional healers in managing HIV and AIDS in Tanzania (original) (raw)
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2007
Collaboration between traditional healers and biomedical practitioners is now being accepted by many African countries south of the Sahara because of the increasing problem of HIV/AIDS. The key problem, however, is how to initiate collaboration between two health systems which differ in theory of disease causation and management. This paper presents findings on experience learned by initiation of collaboration between traditional healers and the Institute of Traditional Medicine in Arusha and Dares -Salaam Municipalities, Tanzania where 132 and 60 traditional healers respectively were interviewed. Of these 110 traditional healers claimed to be treating HIV/AIDS. The objective of the study was to initiate sustainable collaboration with traditional healers in managing HIV/AIDS. Consultative meetings with leaders of traditional healers' associations and government officials were held, followed by surveys at respective traditional healers' "vilinge" (traditional clinic...
ABSTRACTIntroductionTraditional healers play a crucial role in healthcare provision, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Thus, there is a global interest in understanding the possibilities for collaboration between traditional healers and biomedical professionals. We believe there is the need for a comprehensive review on collaboration between traditional healers and biomedical professionals. Therefore, the aim of this review is to synthesise the literature on collaboration between traditional healer’s and biomedical professional including relevant interventions.MethodsA systematic review was conducted, utilizing a search strategy in PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar. Articles addressing collaboration between traditional healers and biomedical professionals were included, with a focus on attitudes, perceptions, interventions, and collaborative models. Data extraction followed a predefined template and the D’Amour et al. framework was employed for analy...
PLOS Global Public Health
Tanzania is HIV-endemic, with 5% prevalence. However, less than half of Tanzanians are aware of their HIV status, and only 75% of adult Tanzanians living with HIV are on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Informal healthcare providers, such as traditional healers, frequently serve as the first line of healthcare in Tanzania. How traditional healers interact with people living with HIV (PLWH) remains unknown. This study sought to understand gaps in HIV care and explore how traditional healers interface with PLWH along the HIV care cascade. We conducted a qualitative study in Mwanza, Tanzania, between November 2019 and May 2020. We invited 15 traditional healers, 15 clients of traditional healers, 15 biomedical healthcare facility staff, and 15 PLWH to participate in a single qualitative interview. Two community focus groups were held with eight male and eight female participants. Participants were 18 years of age or older. Individual experiences with traditional healers and biomedical hea...
South African Journal of Psychology, 2019
In South Africa, traditional healers treat a wide range of health-related problems and culture-bound syndromes considered non-responsive to Western medicine. Given the widespread use of traditional medicine in treating common mental disorders, especially among low-income groups, it is important to explore the self-identification, training, and practices of traditional healers. We also explored traditional healers’ perceptions of collaboration with Western health care institutions (hospitals, clinics). IsiXhosa traditional healers ( n = 50, female = 40, mean age = 52.7 years, SD = 14.7 years) were interviewed using both a structured and a semi-structured interview schedule, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Data were analysed using SPSS version 24 and Statistica. Interview notes were typed soon after each interview and thematically analysed. Participants described similar experiences regarding the three steps of becoming a traditional healer and treating clients with ment...
2002
The purpose of this study was to get a better sense of what collaborative efforts between the allopathic and indigenous health systems to address HIV/ AIDS look like 'on the ground' with the hope that revealed successes and failures could inform other initiatives. The pilot investigation took the form of a small case study of the Community Health andHIV/ AIDS project at the Valley Trust in KwaZulu Natal's Valley of a Thousand Hills where HIV/ AIDS collaboration with traditional healers has taken primarily three forms: 1) incorporation in the formal primary health care system as CHWs (TH!CHWs); 2) formal short-term HIV/ AIDS training (Trained); and 3) informal secondhand HIV/ AIDS training or information sharing (Untrained). The investigation focused primarily on how the indigenous healers' involvement in the Valley Trust's varying training programs affected their knowledge of the disease, their engagement in HIV/ AIDS awareness and prevention efforts, their tre~tment of HIV/ AIDS patients, and their perception and relationship with the formal medical system. The findings show that collaboration between traditional and formal health services, in the form of the Valley Trust's training, results in 'better' HIV/ AIDS work by participating tr~ditional healers through enhanced performance on HIV/ AIDS knowledge tests.1A.s indicated by their superior performance on correlating knowledge indices, TH!CHWs engaged in the most effectual community prevention activities of the three groups. Additionally, the TH/CHW group appeared to have the most confidence and experience in treating patients with HN/ AIDS. Additionally as compared to the other two groups, their treatment methods were more varied, induding psycho-spiritual ceremonies, diet, traditional medicinal herbs, and support of biomedical efforts. Given the comparative success @f TH/CHWs, it was ironic that only the healers' themselves-iPdicated wanting more izangomas to serve as Community Health Workers. As leaders among participating healers, TB/CHWs were critical to the success of the Valley Trust's collaborative project. I wish to express sincere appreciation to all of those individuals who helped shape and inform this work. My sincere gratitude is extended to all of the izangomas who participated in this study for opening their lives and healing practices to me. To Ma Bhengu and the rest of the Amakosi Association, thank you; your strength, warmth, and ingenuity will always serve as a source of inspiration for me. Special thanks to Jeannine Andrews for helping translate and bridge the cultural gap between our worlds. I am extremely grateful to the Valley Trust, particularly the Community Health Department, and the Halley Stott Clinic for generously sharing their time, experience, and resources with me. Special thanks is extended to Tshtishi Ngubo and Dr. Janet Giddy. I would also like to express my appreciation to the Centre for Social and Development Studies at the University of Natal for their assistance in preparing this dissertation. Many thanks to Thokosani Xaba for his guidance during the early phase of my research and Lisa Bornstein for her direction and editorial assistance with the final product. Thanks also to Julian May for helping me secure funding from the Mellon Foundation, which made my field research possible. Additional thanks to Lesley Anderson the heart and soul of the department and constant aid. Many thanks to all of my friends and family for the thousands of ways they have lifted me up and kept me going this past year. To my translator and sisi, Welile, for bringing me into her world and giving me a voice. 'r:0 Risa without whose support this paper would not have been possible. To my mother and father for housing and financially supporting me throughout the writing process. To Leilah for her emotional support and Cary for her motivation and encouragement.To Nina, my South African kick-inthe-pants and Cedza for his inspiration and support in the final stretch.
2018
Despite playing essential and parallel roles in the lives of patients, there exists a frictional, imbalanced relationship between traditional healers and Western doctors in South Africa. While national policy encourages a seamless system rooted in both Western science and indigenous knowledge, biomedical institutions are hesitant to accept traditional medical practices, which are based on less tangible and more spiritually-oriented elements. This research project turns to these two ideologically different entities to assess their perspectives on the roles of themselves and the other within the context of the South African health system. Responses from semi-structured interviews with seven health practitioners from KwaZulu-Natalizangoma and doctors-were the primary sources used for the knowledge acquisition process. Given that I was the lens through which these participant stories were told, my own narrative and perspectives on the subject were interwoven throughout this report. Participant narratives suggest that there is no consensus within either biomedical or traditional health domains about perceptions of the other, save for the agreement that the South African health system is disconnected with both modalities working in parallel. However, there are five overarching points of engagement throughout the practitioner-patient healing process through which the modalities directly or indirectly interact with one another and form crossdisciplinary opinions. These serve as points of discussion in this report. Elements keeping the domains separated include miscommunication, suspicion, and adherence to cultural paradigms.
The role of traditional healers in HIV management in Zimbabwe remains undocumented; thus the paper investigated the role of traditional healers in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Random sampling was used to select 80 community members who were recruited as study participants. Eight interviews were conducted with traditional healers who were conveniently sampled. The study used quantitative and qualitative techniques to allow for triangulation of data. Eighty percent (80%) of the respondents knew about HIV and AIDS issues. Fifty-six (56%) of the respondents with various medical and spiritual problems had visited a traditional healer for help. Amongst those who sought help from traditional healers, 72% improved, 23% their condition did not change and 5% deteriorated. Traditional healer's consultation charges range from US$2 to13 for treatment which was considered as being fair by health seekers. The maximum number of clients per week ranged from 3 to 50. Health seekers indicated a...
Traditional healers are commonly utilized throughout sub-Saharan Africa instead of, and in concert with, biomedical facilities. Traditional healers are trusted providers and prominent community members, and could be important partners in improving engagement with HIV services in endemic contexts. Our study sought to understand the roles of healers in the urban setting of Maputo, Mozambique, where HIV prevalence is high and testing rates are low. Qualitative data were gathered through minimally-structured interviews with 36 healers. Analysis followed an inductive, grounded theory approach. Data reveal three themes relevant to improving engagement with HIV services in this endemic region: 1) healers have positive attitudes towards biomedicine; 2) healers advocate for their sick clients; and 3) clients are reticent to present to biomedical facilities. Healers describe their roles as "cooperative" with biomedical providers to provide healthcare for their clients. Results sugge...
The rapid scale-up of effective HIV prevention strategies is a central theme of the post-2015 health and development agenda. All major global HIV and AIDS funders have aligned their policies and plans to achieve sharp reductions in new HIV infections and reach epidemic control by 2030. In these "fast-track" plans, increased antiretroviral treatment coverage and the attainment of viral suppression are pivotal, and there is firm recognition of the need for countries to mobilise more domestic resources and build stronger community clinic systems. There is little in these bold plans, however, to suggest that the now 30-year-old call by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other organisations to establish systematic collaborations with the traditional health sector will finally be heeded. In the context of sub-Saharan Africa's HIV epidemic, a significant body of literature demonstrates the critical role that traditional healers can play in improving the success of health programmes, including those for HIV prevention. This paper provides a brief history of collaboration with traditional healers for HIV followed by a description of several successful collaborations and discussion of key elements for success. We argue that the traditional health sector is a major resource that has yet to be sufficiently mobilised against HIV. As we shift from a short-term HIV response to a longer-term and more sustainable response, there is an urgent need to accelerate efforts to leverage and partner with the hundreds of thousands of traditional health practitioners who are already providing health services in communities. Failure to better attune our work to the medical pluralism of communities affected by HIV will continue to hinder HIV programming success and help assure that ambitious post-2015 HIV prevention and control goals are not realised.