Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 276-289).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 289-337).

Whilst hospitals are the dominant institutions through which Western biomedical treatment is delivered, it is also argued that these institutions do not reproduce a distinct notion of a biomedical model, but instead assume different configurations, reflecting and replicating wider socio-cultural processes. In South Africa, this includes a reflection and replication of challenges arising from an eclectic therapeutic landscape in which biomedicine is but one avenue. The challenge presented is that South Africa’s dominant therapeutic cultures of African traditional medicine, said to be used by an estimated 80% of the population, and Western biomedicine, reflect two distinct, and arguably conflicting, ontological and epistemological paradigms. A recognition of this is encompassed in many hospital ethnographies exploring how biomedical professionals confront and manage the collision of these therapeutic systems within the institutional space. Whilst such studies have been carried out in a number of African country-settings, this interface of therapeutic cultures in South African hospitals has received scant attention. Using a range of interpretive research methods that include narrative, informant, and respondent interviews, this project, carried out within two public hospitals in the town of Barberton, South Africa, explores the views, experiences, and perspectives of hospitalbased biomedical professionals, and hospital-bound tuberculosis patients, on the articulation of African traditional medicine and Western biomedicine. Barberton tuberculosis hospital Using a narrative approach, an exploration of TB patient’s stories of navigating the plural therapeutic landscape is undertaken. These examine the complex navigation of a plural medical ecology, the conflict arising as a result, as well as how personal accounts reflect broader meta-narrative illness archetypes. Alongside this, is an examination of the conflict between nurses and patients within the hospital-confines that arises as a result of the interface between African traditional medicine and Western biomedicine. This is examined in the context of a TB treatment facility that reflects strong Foucaultian characteristics of institutional control, and observation of patient bodies and behaviours. Barberton general hospital Using informant and respondent interviews, an exploration of the positioning, views, and sometimes allegiances of nurses and doctors towards African traditional medicine and Western biomedicine, is undertaken. This includes an examination of the described articulation between these therapeutic cultures within the biomedical space. A particular emphasis is placed on examining the role of nurses as brokers of culture, as they mediate and broker conflict arising as these therapeutic systems collide. This study presents a complex milieu of views and positions regarding the interface between African traditional medicine and Western biomedicine. Tuberculosis patients portray convoluted and meandering health seeking journey’s between healing systems, and both nurses and tuberculosis patients, describe an institution attempting to position itself as distinctly biomedical. Whilst African traditional medicine does emerge within this hospital space, this is largely clandestine, and is actively discouraged by biomedical staff through vigilant observation and oversight that is interpreted by patients as overt, and excessive biomedical control. In the general hospital, nurses and doctors described how African traditional medicine is encountered and confronted, where it is largely viewed as clouding and complicating biomedical healing and treatment endeavours. The range of views on these ontologically distinct systems, are broad, where health professionals who reject traditional medicine, and those, mainly nurses, who use traditional medicines, work side-by-side – sometimes leading to internal conflict. An exploration of the role of nurses as culture brokers is complex, where nurses describe encountering significant conflict in mediating between patients expectations, expectations demanded by professional roles, and their cultural allegiances. This is embedded within a complex political landscape, where biomedical practitioners who position themselves against African traditional medicine, feel reluctant to voice concerns in a post-apartheid institution that prioritises cultural pluralism, and respect for personal beliefs. This project uncovers the conflict and tensions arising from the plural medical landscape within, and without Barberton’s hospitals, as well as how the stance towards therapeutic pluralism by biomedical professionals differs between these institutions depending on context.

M.A. / The general aim of this study was to explore the literature on transpersonal correlates in traditional African healing. The main aim was to create an understanding of transpersonal experiences from the stance of Transpersonal psychology and incorporate it to what is known with regard to illnesses and diseases in African belief systems. The existing literature indicates that there are differences and similarities between traditional African healing systems and Western modes of healing. Despite their differences, however it seems possible that they could operate in a complementary manner within the broader health care system.

No abstract available / Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Architecture / unrestricted

Hypoxis (commonly known as African potato, Ilabatheka, Inkomfe, sterretjie or yellow starflowers and also as monna wa maledu or thitidi) is a genus of the family Hypoxidaceae. The rootstocks of Hypoxis species, particularly H. hemerocallidea, are well-known to be used in traditional medicine for the treatment of different ailments, such as urinary tract infection, epilepsy, prostate cancer and onset diabetes. Several visits have been made to the Faraday Medicinal Market and Abey Bailey Nature Reserve in Johannesburg to determine the availability of Hypoxis plant materials. From these visits, it was discovered that different Hypoxis species are harvested and sold as the same plant commonly referred to as the African potato, and the treatment with these plants might be questionable as the secondary metabolites might differ. This was proven when a number of rootstocks bought from the medicinal market grew into plants showing distinct morphological differences when planted at the Agricultural Research Council (Roodeplaat, Pretoria). It is possible that the plants sold are used as the substitutes for the commonly main plant, which is H. hemerocallidea and a reality is that many of the problems related to the quality of medicinal plants are based on the substitution of the declared plants and when the substitution occurs the quality of the plants becomes compromised leading to the risks of public health. It is however, not known whether the substitution is done deliberately or unintentionally since the outward morphology of Hypoxis species are not the same except their bright yellow flowers. The similarity within these species is on their underground rootstock. The dosage and toxicity of plant preparations is extremely important and, therefore adulteration is a concern where plant preparations are taken orally and the information about the plants used not being accurate. The aim of this study was to compare the secondary metabolite content of four Hypoxis species namely, H. acuminata, H. hemerocallidea, H. iridifolia and H. rigidula Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were used to analyze the secondary metabolite content of the plant extracts. Differences were also noted as one green compound was observed only in H. acuminata and H. rigidula. The HPLC results showed major differences in retention time in fresh material. The antibacterial activity of extracts of all four Hypoxis species showed similar results, although the activity differed amongst the microorganisms. The species showed high level of antioxidant activity that increased with increasing concentration in all four Hypoxis species. The species also showed no toxicity when tested in vitro on Vero cells however, they seemed to be toxic to cancer cells (Hela cells) but with a higher concentration. Hypoxoside was isolated and identified as the purple colour band on the TLC fingerprint and was confirmed in all the species. It might be possible to replace or substitute different Hypoxis species for H. hemerocallidea for medicinal use as the chromatograms of the other three species correlate well with the chromatograms of H. hemerocallidea after storage. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Plant Science / unrestricted

Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Education in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Zululand, 2001. / This research study examined the prospect and scope for traditional medicine in the South African education support services. The first aim was to assess teachers' perceptions of the need for traditional medicine practices in the school. The second aim was to investigate the problems experienced by learners which require traditional medicine practices as solutions within the school. The third aim was to determine the procedures that can be followed in order to provide traditional medicine to meet the learners' needs. The fourth aim was to provide certain guidelines regarding traditional medicine intervention within a school. The fifth aim was to find whether teachers' perceptions of traditional medicine in schools are influenced by the teachers' characteristics. Lastly, to find out whether there is any agreement among ranks assigned by the respondents to: ♦ job opportunities amenable to creation through the use of traditional medicine. ♦ afflictions amenable to treatment by traditional medicine. A Likert scale was constructed to measure the areas indicated by the aforementioned aims of study. The quantifying instrument was administered to a representative sample of teachers. Sixty six completed questionnaires were analysed. The Chi-square Test and frequency distribution methods were used to analyse data. The important findings revealed that teachers endorsed scale items on positive rather than negative perceptions.

No description available.

This study analyzed the role of traditional healing as a health care delivery system in the context of a transcultural society. The perspectives, experiences and personal accounts of 90 respondents were assessed with respect to the categories used by the World Health Organization in its goal of primary health care. Focusing in the research setting that was based in the Limpopo Province, in South Africa the researcher sought to determine whether health practitioners appreciated and understood traditional healing system; if health institutions could integrate traditional healing systems; and how collaboration of the two health systems can be realized. Furthermore, drawing on a blend of qualitative and quantitative research design, the research project was intended to establish the extent to which traditional medicine equipped health practitioners with knowledge of traditional healing techniques and whether practitioners would reconcile traditional and conventional medicine. Drawing on a modified version of the structure of Leininger's Sunrise model, which states that cultural, physical and social structure dimensions are influenced by multiple factors. The research findings offer insights into the historical, social, economic, cultural, among other developments, that lead to integrationist approach in health care systems. Concluding remarks that health practitioners should pursue a policy of neutrality follow a discussion of the findings, emphasizing, the need to allow health consumers to seek traditional health care system, if they so desire. Recommendations include suggestions for further research to determine effective partnerships between traditional and conventional health care systems. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

No description available.