Conceptualization of Mental illness and Treatment practice among Traditional Healers at Gondar city (original) (raw)
Related papers
African Journal of Psychiatry, 2010
Objective: In many traditional belief systems in Africa, including South Africa, mental health problems may be attributed to the influence of ancestors or to bewitchment. Traditional healers are viewed as having the expertise to address these causes. However, there is limited information on their explanatory models and consequent treatment practices. The present study examines traditional healers' explanatory models (EMs) and treatment practices for psychotic and non-psychotic mental illnesses. Method: 4 focus group discussions (8 healers in each group) and 18 in-depth interviews were conducted. Four vignettes were presented (schizophrenia, depression, panic and somatization) and traditional healers' views on the nature of the problem, cause, consequence, treatment and patient expectations were elicited. Results: Traditional healers held multiple explanatory models for psychotic and non-psychotic disorders. Psychotic illnesses appear to be the main exemplar of mental illness and were treated with traditional medicine, while nonpsychotic illnesses were not viewed as a mental illness at all. Additionally, traditional healers do not only use herbs and substances solely from "traditional" sources but rather have incorporated into their treatment practices modern ingredients that are potentially toxic. Conclusion: Interventions aimed at increasing the mental health literacy of traditional healers are essential. In addition, investigations of the effectiveness of traditional healer treatment for psychiatric disorders should be conducted.
International Journal of Social Psychiatry
Introduction: Mental illness is a non-communicable disease that is increasingly contributing to the global burden of diseases and disability. It affects a person’s feelings, thinking, behavior, and daily life functioning. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore perceived causes of mental illness, techniques for identifying mental illness, and treatment methods used by traditional healers in the Berta community. Methods: The study employed a qualitative research method. Data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews with seven traditional healers who were selected purposefully. We used thematic analysis to present and analyze the data. Results: The findings of this study indicated that witchcraft, supernatural power, hereditary, substance use, and food poising as the main perceived causes of mental illness among traditional healers in the Berta community. The traditional healers identify mental illness using different techniques such as patient observation...
A Study on Traditional Healers of Mental Disorders in Nagaland, India
Background: Traditional healers form the frontline and first level of consultation in most indigenous populations. Nagaland in NorthEastern region of India with many tribes has a rich biodiversity of ethnobotanical plants and is culturally strong in traditional healing. To what extent this is true for treatment of mental disorders is not known. Aim: To determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of traditional healers in treating mental disorders. Materials and methods: A major household interview survey was carried out in 2018 along with an in-depth interview survey on a representative sample of 30 traditional healers who had treated a total of 74 mental disorders. Results: Traditional healers were quite popular, more so in the rural as compared to urban, and were invariably the first line of consultation. Psycho-spiritual therapy was predominantly used apart from herbal and manual methods. A wide range of mental disorders were treated including mood disorders, epilepsy and psychosomatic problems. The healers were unable to treat substance abuse and related psychiatric problems, especially among the younger population. Conclusion: Despite low educational background, traditional healers have learnt to be competent, through oral traditions, in handling many mental disorders and are still popular and well respected by the community.
African health sciences, 2009
Little is known about the prevalence and severity of DSM-IV mental disorders treated by traditional healers in Uganda. To describe the prevalence and severity of DSM-IV disorders handled by traditional healers in Jinja and Iganga districts, Eastern Uganda. Between January and March 2008, Face-to-Face Interviews were conducted with 400 patients attending traditional healers' shrines for mental health problems, using Self Rating Questionnaire 25 (SRQ-25) for screening, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-Plus) for specific DSM-IV diagnosis and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) for severity of illness. Descriptive data analysis and frequency estimates were performed using SPSS version 15.0 for Windows. Pearson's chi-square tests and odds ratios were used to explore the relationship between severity and combined use of biomedical services and traditional healing. Of 387 respondents, 60.2% had diagnosable current mental illness and 16.3% had had one d...
2013
The use of traditional healers is common worldwide, especially in developing countries. Few studies, though, have focused on the use of traditional healers by people with mental disorders. This study made an attempt to understand the practice of traditional healers in relation to mental health and psychiatric services in Sudan. The study was framed to understand: (a) the socio-demographic characteristics of people with mental disorders who seek treatment in the traditional healer centres in central Sudan; (b) the clinical presentations, diagnoses and outcomes of people with psychotic disorders attending traditional healers, as well as the healing methods and interventions used; (c) the traditional healers’ profiles – their knowledge, belief, attitudes and practice in relation to people with mental disorders. Applying both qualitative and quantitative methods, the research was conducted in four phases, as follows. In phase 1 we interviewed the traditional healers to study their profi...
2022
Traditional healers of the Berta community play important roles in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of patients who are with mental illness. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceived causes of mental illness and their treatment methods used by the Berta community traditional healers. To achieve the intended objectives, seven well known traditional healers were selected using snowball sampling technique from the total Berta community. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured one-to-one interviews, and they were analyzed by applying content analysis method. The findings of the study revealed that traditional healers of the Berta community detected mental illnesses through a detailed follow-up of a person’s behaviors/actions and his/her daily life activities. According to these traditional healers, curse/witchcraft, harsh social condition, hereditary, substance use,and food poising are considered as the main causes of mental illness. To treat mental i...
2020
Background: People with common mental disorders have instability, poor self-care, social withdrawal, poor communication with others and frequent somatic pains. Seeking help from traditional healers which offer Prayer and treatment with holy water have been strategies reported by several studies particularly in developing world. Purpose : to assess perceived causes, associated factors and prevalence of common mental disorders among visitors to traditional healers in Mekelle town, North Ethiopia. Methods and subjects: We used a mixed study design; a quantitative study on 380 subjects and a qualitative study among fifteen subjects. We used Self-reported questionnaire (SRQ 20) to screen common mental disorders. Also perceived causes of mental illness and psycho-social stressful situations were assessed using a semi structured tool and in-depth interview. We analyzed data using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software, windows 25. Findings in the qualitative study were *Significantly associated in the final analysis
2020
In rural African communities, traditional healers hold an esteemed and powerful position in the diagnosis and treatment of various illnesses. They assume a significant role in addressing the mental health care needs of individuals by offering cultural appropriate treatment and they are easily accessible. This was a qualitative study, and specifically, the case study method was utilised. Ten traditional healers were chosen through purposive and snowball sampling to participate in the study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using the thematic analysis method. The findings revealed that several procedures (like throwing of bones and direct observation of patient’s behaviours) are used to diagnose mental illness. The findings also revealed that mental illness can be treated through the use of traditional remedies and practices (like rituals). From the findings of the study, it can be suggested that both traditional medical interventions and some cultura...
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 2018
Background Traditional and faith healers constitute an important group of complementary and alternative mental health service providers (CAPs) in sub-Sahara Africa. Governments in the region commonly express a desire to integrate them into the public health system. The aim of the study was to describe the profile, practices and distribution of traditional and faith healers in three sub-Saharan African countries in great need for major improvements in their mental health systems namely Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. Materials and methods A mapping exercise of CAPs who provide mental health care was conducted in selected catchment areas in the three countries through a combination of desk review of existing registers, engagement activities with community leaders and a snowballing technique. Information was collected on the type of practice, the methods of diagnosis and the forms of treatment using a specially designed proforma. Results We identified 205 CAPs in Ghana, 406 in Kenya and 82 in Nigeria. Most (> 70%) of the CAPs treat both physical and mental illnesses. CAPs receive training through long years of apprenticeship. They use a combination of herbs, various forms of divination and rituals in the treatment of mental disorders. The use of physical restraints by CAPs to manage patients was relatively uncommon in Kenya (4%) compared to Nigeria (63.4%) and Ghana (21%). CAPs often have between 2-to 10-fold capacity for patient admission compared to conventional mental health facilities. The profile of CAPs in Kenya stands out from those of Ghana and Nigeria in many respects. Conclusion CAPs are an important group of providers of mental health care in sub-Saharan Africa, but attempts to integrate them into the public health system must address the common use of harmful treatment practices.
Traditional healers in the treatment of common mental disorders in South Africa
2009
Abstract There are few population-level insights into the use of traditional healers and other forms of alternative care for the treatment of common mental disorders in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined the extent to which alternative practitioners are consulted, and predictors of traditional healer visits. A national survey was conducted with 3651 adults South African between 2002 and 2004 using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) to generate diagnoses.