Beliefs and Attitudes Towards the Use of Traditional Medicine in a South African Regional Hospital
Keywords:
Medical Treatment; Traditional Medicine; Integration; Black People; Health Care System; Attitudes; Belief
Abstract
Traditional medicine (TM) in South Africa is the first choice for a large number of black people seeking medical assistance in their communities for various illnesses that are perceived to be a threat to their health. The TM policy acknowledged by the World Health Organisation (WHO) exists in South Africa. The policy guides the process of integrating TM into the national health care system. However, hospitals in black communities have not embraced this policy or TM approach to health care. Nor have patients advocated for the use of TM as part of their medical treatment. The paper thus aims to explore the attitudes and beliefs of patients and health professionals, to understand the underlying issues that impact the acceptance of TM use in the hospital. A single-case qualitative study approach was conducted using the following data collection methods: namely, semi-structured face-to-face interviews with health professionals and a focus group interview with patients. The study findings revealed that although participants used TM to better their health concurrently with western medicine, none supported the integrating of TM as part of their medical treatment at the hospital.
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Masemola, F. J., Thobakgale, E. M., & Govender, I. (2023). Integration of traditional medicine into the mental healthcare system in Tshwane, South Africa. S Afr Fam Pract, 65(1), 5636. DOI.org/10.4102/safp. v65i1.5636.
Mirzaeian, R., Sadoughi, F., Tahmasebian, S., & Mojahedi, M. (2019). Progress and challenge in traditional medicine information system: A systematic review. Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacognosy Research, 7(4), 246–259. ISSN 0719-4250.
Legesse, F. M., & Babanto, A. M. (2023). Factors associated with the use of traditional medicine in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. SAGE open, 1 – 10. DOI.org /10.1177/21582440231153038.
Xego, S., Kambizi, L., & Nchu, F. (2021). ‘Recognising the impact of traditional herbal medicine in managing cancer: The South African context. Journal of Medicinal Plants for Economic Development, 5(1), a121. DOI.org/10.4102/jomped. v5i1.121.
Malakoane, B., Heunis, J. C., Chikobvu, P., et al. (2020). Public health system challenges in the Free State, South Africa: a situation appraisal to inform health system strengthening. BMC Health Serv Res, 20(58), 1–14. DOI.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4862-y.
Lassale, C., Gaye, B., Diop, I. B, et al. (2022). Use of traditional medicine and control of hypertension in 12 African countries. BMJ Global Health, 7, 1 – 7. DOI:10.1136/bmjgh-2021-008138.
Muchemwa., B. (2023). African traditional healthcare practices vs conventional medicine: future directions for healthcare in Africa. J Altern Complement Integr Med, 9(1), 313. DOI.org/10.24966/ACIM-7562/100313. DOI/pdf/10.10520/EJC-139571f97e.
Bradfield, J., Woodborne, S., Hollmann, J., & Dubery, I. (2023). A 500-year-old medicine container discovered near Misgund, Eastern Cape, South Africa: Residue characterisation by GC-MS. S Afr J Sci, 119(1/2), 1–8. DOI.org/10.17159/sajs.2023/13011.
Jimenez-Fernandez, R., Rodriguez Vázquez, R., Marín-Morales, D., Herraiz-Soria, E., Losa-Iglesias, M. E., Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo, R., & Corral-Liria, I. (2023). Exploring knowledge about Fang traditional medicine: An informal health seeking behaviour for medical or cultural afflictions in equatorial Guinea. Healthcare, (11), 808. DOI.org/10.3390/healthcare11060808.
Katuu, S. (2018). Healthcare systems: typologies, framework models, and South Africa’s health sector. International Journal of Health Governance, 23(2), 134 – 148. DOI 10.1108/IJHG-10-2017-0054.
Khanna K., Kohli S.K., Kaur R., Bhardwaj A., Bhardwaj V., Ohri P., Sharma A., Ahmad A., Bhardwaj R, and Ahmad P. (2021) Herbal immune-boosters: Substantial warriors of pandemic Covid-19 battle. Phytomedicine. Doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2020.153361.
Lei L., Huang X., Zhang S., Yang J., Yang L., & Xu M. (2020) Comparison of prevalence and associated factors of anxiety and depression among people affected by versus people unaffected by quarantine during the covid-19 epidemic in southwestern China. Med Sci Monit, (26). 1 -12 DOI:10.12659/MSM.924609.
Liwa, A., Roediger, R., Jaka, H., Bougaila, A., Smart, L., Langwick, S., & Peck, R. (2017). Herbal and alternative medicine use in Tanzanian adults admitted with hypertension-related diseases: A mixed-methods study. International Journal of Hypertension, 1–9. DOI.org/10.1155/2017/5692572.
Logier, A., Jar’s, E., Karuizawa, P., & Ahnfeldt-Mollerup, P. (2021). Prevalence and socio- economic factors affecting the use of traditional medicine among adults of Katikekile. Subcounty, Moroto District, Uganda. Afri Health Sci, 21(3), 1410–1417. DOI.org/10.4314/ahs. v21i3.52.
Maphumulo, W. T., & Bhengu, B. R. (2019). Challenges of quality improvement in the healthcare of South Africa post-apartheid: A critical review. Curationis, 42(1), 1–9. DOI.org/10.4102/curationis. V42i1.1901.
Mokhesi, T., & Modjadji, P. (2022). Usage of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine and relate factors among patients receiving healthcare in Lesotho. The Open Public Health Journal, (1), 1–12. DOI: 10.2174/18749445-v15-e2202090.
Mothibe, M. E. & Sibanda, M. (2019). African Traditional Medicine: South African perspective on traditional and complementary medicine. United Kingdom: Intechopen.
Oyebode, O., Kandala, N. B., Chilton, J. P., & Lilford, R.J. (2016). Use of traditional medicine in middle-income countries: a WHO-SAGE study. Health Policy and Planning, 31(8), 984–991. DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czw022.
Semenya, S. S., & Potgieter, M. J. (2014). Bapedi Traditional Healers in the Limpopo Province, South Africa: Their socio-cultural profile and traditional healing practice. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, (10), 4. DOI.org/10.1186/1746-4269-10-4.
Schneider, H., Kredo, T., Odendaal, W. A., & Abdullah, F. (2023). What are health policy and systems research priorities for universal health coverage in South Africa. S Afr Med J, 113(2), 61–64.DOI.org/10.7196/SAMJ. 2023.v113i2.16798.
Ramodipa, T., Engelbrecht, K., Mokgobu, I., & Mmereki, D. (2023). Status of healthcare waste management plans and practices in public healthcare facilities in Gauteng, South Africa. BMC public health, (23), 234–246. DOI.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15133-9.
Wassie, S. M., Aragie, L. L., Taye, B. W., & Mekonnen, L. B. (2015). Knowledge, attitude, and utilization of traditional medicine among the communities of Merawi Town, Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 138073. DOI.org/10.1155/2015/138073.
Wiersinga W.J., Rhodes A., Cheng A.C., Peacock S.J, and Prescott H.C. (2020) Pathophysiology, Transmission, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Review. JAMA, 324(8):782–793. Doi:10.1001/jama.2020.12839.
World Health Organization. (2013). WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: http://apps.who. int/iris/bitstream/10665/92455/1/9789241506090_eng.pdf. Accessed on: 30 June 2023.
Zhang, J., Wider, B., Shang, H., Li, X., and Ernst, E. (2012). Quality of Herbal Medicines: Challenges and Solutions. Complementary Therapy in Medicine, 20(1-2): 100–106. DOI.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2011.09.00.
Published
2024-03-01
How to Cite
Mawasha, L. (2024). Beliefs and Attitudes Towards the Use of Traditional Medicine in a South African Regional Hospital. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 7(3), 240-250. https://doi.org/10.47814/ijssrr.v7i3.2074
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