Traditional healers have a different understanding of psychological illnesses to the western paradigm as well as a different way of diagnosing and treating psychological illnesses. Aims and Objectives. This study’s aim is to examine how traditional healers understand the causes of mental illness mainly focusing on amafufunyana and how this understanding informs treatments methods. Method. This has been done based on hermeneutic phenomenology by drawing from the lived experience of traditional healers through a focus group interview. Results. Upon analysis of the data it becomes clear that traditional healers understand the aetiology of amafufunyana to be supernatural forces. Amafufunyana present in overt and covert symptoms and the diagnostic process entails connecting with the ancestors for their guidance and confirmation of diagnosis, as well as guidance on which imithi to use. The treatment process is congruent with the diagnostic process as it also entails guidance from the ancestors on which imithi to use. Other valuable aspects of traditional healing were brought forward while conducting this study. The aspect of protection from the ancestors was emphasised. It became evident in the analysis of this study that the rituals that are performed in order to appease the ancestors facilitate the connection to the ancestors and through maintaining this connect one can be protected from an array of illnesses and misfortunes. Recommendations. It is recommended that recommended that more studies are conducted with traditional healers in order to give them an opportunity to elaborate on their lived experience of healing, as it was observed that a majority of literature speak on behalf of traditional healers.

M.Tech. / The World Health Organization (WHO) defines African Traditional Medicine (ATM) as comprising of indigenous experiences of different cultures, approaches, knowledge and beliefs, which incorporates plant, animal and mineral-based medicines together with spiritual therapies in the treatment, diagnostic and the prevention of disease (WHO, 2008). It is estimated that up to 70-80% of the black population in South Africa consult African Traditional Healers (ATH) for their health care needs before or together with the use of other health care providers (Truter, 2007). According to Truter (2007) this is because many in the black population find ATH to be more accessible, familiar and more knowledgeable concerning culture-bound syndromes and traditions. Homoeopathy is a form of natural medicine that takes a holistic approach to the treatment of patients. As part of a holistic approach, Homoeopaths are required to understand their patient’s frame of reference and their life world. As many of the black patients who consult Homoeopaths also consult ATH, it is important for the Homoeopathic practitioner to understand these patients in order to ensure positive doctor-patient relationships. The aim of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore and describe the experiences of black people consulting ATH in Tshwane and from this information, make guidelines for improved meaningful interactions between Homoeopathic practitioners and their patients who consult ATH. This was a contextual, qualitative and phenomenological research design. Ten black participants who consulted with ATH were interviewed. The participants were recruited by means of purposive sampling. African Traditional Healers were identified through the Kara Heritage Institute in Tshwane, an institution dealing with indigenous knowledge systems. Volunteers were recruited through advertisements (Appendix A) which were placed at the designated working areas of ATH with their permission. Participants completed the information and consent form (Appendix C).

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / A qualitative study was carried out to assess the role of traditional healers in oral health care in Kwa-Zulu Natal province, South Africa. The aim and objectives of the study were to assess the oral care knowledge and practices among traditional healers, to determine the extent to which traditional healers can diagnose oral conditions and how they could be used in the provision of primary health care and prevention of the spread of HIV infection. Another objective was to use the information collected to serve as a guide for collaborative oral disease prevention programme development.Three categories of traditional healers were identified in the sample: Isangomas, Nyangas and Umthandezelis. The average age of the sample was 45 years and the majority was female. Most healers were in training for between eight months and ten years. All traditional healers reported seeing patients with oral diseases and 93% reported that they referred patients elsewhere for additional help. All healers treated their patients with natural remedies. Seventy three per cent of the sample reported that they treated patients with HIV/AIDS. Less than 30% of the sample knew that AIDS was caused by a virus and 47% reported being ‘told’ by the ancestors whether an oral disease was HIV/AIDS.In this study traditional healers were shown a series of ten photographs of common oral diseases and oral HIV lesions and asked to identify as many lesions as possible. Following basic training and education about the causes and diagnostic features of the lesions, 100% of traditional healers were then able to identify aphthous ulcers, 80% Kaposi's sarcoma and 73% could recognize cancer of the tongue. These results showed that given proper education, traditional healers could play an important role in early detection of not only the common oral diseases but also the oral manifestations of HIV/AIDS. In addition, most traditional healers are skilled in interpersonal relations and if provided with the correct information they could be very effective as AIDS councilors.The traditional healers demonstrated good knowledge of the transmission, risk groups and prevention strategies for HIV/AIDS and they could serve as an important resource of information and should be incorporated in community based AIDS prevention and other programmes. / South Africa

See the attached abstract below

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Masters in Counselling Psychology in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2012. / The focus of this research is in the area of the role of traditional Zulu medicine on psychosis. Such a study is important in order to have an in-depth-understanding of how people of the African ancestry conceptualise and treat a mental disorder such as psychosis. The research approach adopted in in this dissertation includes qualitative content analysis. The findings of this research provide evidence that Traditional Zulu healers and a few community members view psychosis as a curable illness that is usually caused by bewitchment. This dissertation recommends that further in-depth investigation into how Africans tend to conceptualise the concept of a “mental disorder” be undertaken in in order for this group of people to be better understood by mental health care practitioners whose approach is predominantly western. This might benefit both parties.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D. (African Languages)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Muhumbulo muhulwane wa ngudo, wo vha wa u sedzulusa na u sengulusa mbonalo ya mushumo wa vhutunguli nga ṅanga dza sialala ḽa mvelele ya Tshivenḓa. Ṱhoḓisiso yo vha yo sedzesaho kha tshenzhemo na vhupfiwa ha ṅanga dza sialala nga ha kuvhonele kwavho kwa mushumo wa vhutunguli kha mushumo wavho wa ḓuvha ḽiṅwe na ḽiṅwe. Tsenguluso yo vha ya u fhaṱusa lushaka nga ha ndeme ya vhutunguli kha vhutshilo ha ḓuvha ḽiṅwe na ḽiṅwe na u khakhulula kuhumbulele kwo shandeaho nga ha vhutunguli ha sialala ḽa Vhavenḓa sa vhu no fhura vhathu tshelede ngeno mishumo yaho i sa tendisei. Ngudo yo sumbedza vhuvha ha mushumo wa vhutunguli ha sialala u bva tsikoni u swika ṋamusi na thuso ine ya vhu ṋetshedza miṱani na kha shango, u tsivhudza lushaka nga u vhamba maano a u vhulunga nḓivho na uri i nga pfukiselwa hani kha vhaswa. Ho shumiswa madzhenele a khwalithethivi kha u kuvhanganya mafhungo. Mafhungo o kuvhanganywa nga nḓila ya inthaviyu vhathu vho livhana zwifhaṱuwo na nga luṱingo khathihi na u ṱalela nyito. Mafhungo o kuvhanganyiwaho o khoudiwa nga maitele a hone, ha bveledzwa thero. Thero dzo tumbulwaho dzo kona u livha kha mawanwa na themendelo. Tsedzuluso yo vhonala yo vula lushaka maṱo kha u dzhiela vhutunguli ha sialala nṱha.

Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology)) -- UNiversity of Limpopo, 2014 / A number of studies have revealed that chronic diseases are common in all communities. This study explored the views of indigenous healers regarding the causes and treatment of chronic diseases in Ga-Dikgale community. A qualitative approach was followed and participants were selected through snowball sampling. Seven participants (2 males and 5 females) who are indigenous healers were recruited for the study. Data was collected using in-depth semi-structured one-to-one interviews and analysed using content analysis. The results of the study are presented in terms of the following themes: a). Participants’ views regarding the types of chronic diseases: despite the divergent views held by indigenous healers regarding chronic diseases, they all perceive these debilitating conditions as incurable. b). Participants’ own explanations of the causes of chronic diseases: it appeared the causes of chronic diseases were attributed to both cultural beliefs and modern medical science. c). Participants’ experiences and subjective notions on the treatment methods for chronic diseases: it was found that Western medicine is considered the most viable option to treat chronic diseases instead of indigenous medicine. d). Participants’ descriptions of the most common diseases that they treat: indigenous healers treat non-chronic conditions instead of chronic diseases. e). Participants’ own perceptions of their roles in the community: it appeared indigenous healers felt they received support from their community as they were consulted mostly for non-chronic conditions; and f). Participants’ recommendations on how people with chronic diseases should be managed: indigenous healers recommend that people should seek medical intervention for treatment of chronic diseases. The study further revealed that indigenous healers in this community are not always the first line of treatment for chronic conditions. Instead, it was found that indigenous healers tend to advice patients with chronic diseases to seek medical intervention rather than traditional healing. The study is concluded by recommending further investigation on chronic diseases, including the possibilities of integrating indigenous healing and Western-oriented health care systems.

ABSTRACT Better health and the general medicalisation process is important for human being to survive and therefore any attempt to deal with human body maintenance, safe and secure measures are highly required by any human. In trying to improve human health, different approaches have been applied; one of them is to incorporate different medical system in order to ensure effectiveness of treatments. However, it has been not easy to incorporate two different medical patterns in some regions due to different reasons. Eventually the situation has created the gap between traditional healer and biomedical healer. This study was intentionally conducted to examine and explore factors behind the gap that has been the main barriers to many people in the health sector in Tanzania. In attempting to investigate, a case study design was applied, and quantitative approach was taken into consideration where a questionnaire was the main tool that was used for data collection from a sample of 200 people of Mkinga districts in Tanzania. Ultimately, the study came up with results that can be used in this thesis to argue that the gap between THPs and BHPs can be due to less recognition of THPs by government and BHPs, but also poor organization among THPs themselves. Hence it advices the government to recognize THPs and their work officially in the region, training to be provided to THPs as well encouraging and fostering cooperation among healers. / <p>This thesis can be used by any of authorised user from any univeristy for academic use only.</p>

MA (Psychology) / Department of Psychology / See the attached abstract below