A qualitative, descriptive, explorative, and contextual research design was selected
for this study. The purpose was to explore the phenomenon of mass hysteria among
the Basotho in Lesotho and to develop guidelines which may facilitate early
intervention and better management and control of mass hysteria outbreaks. The
study area covered four of the ten districts in Lesotho. Four high schools where
recent outbreaks of mass hysteria have been reported were included in the study.
Semi-structured individual interviews and focus group interviews were conducted to
collect the data. Purposive sampling was used to select young women in high
schools who experienced mass hysteria; teachers who were present during mass
hysteria episodes; a parent; and traditional healers and religious leaders who were
involved in treating the affected.Thirteen individual interviews were held respectively with one victim of mass hysteria from a rural area, four school principals,a parent,five
traditional healers, a priest and apastor. Three focus group interviews were
conducted with thirty affected young women from three different high schools and
two focus group interviews were held with twenty teachers from two different high
schools.The data were transcribed verbatim and content analysis was done using
open and axial coding.
Four themes emerged from the findings, namely: manifestations of mass hysteria
among the Basotho; interventions used by the Basotho to alleviate mass hysteria;
Basotho’s views about the phenomenon of mass hysteria; and effects of mass
hysteria onthe Basotho. The findings show that young women in Lesotho experience
both physical and psychological symptoms during mass hysteria episodes and that it
has a contagious effect. The interventions used by the Basotho to alleviate mass
hysteria include traditional healing, herbal remedies, exorcism and prayer.The
Basotho have different views about mass hysteria attributing it to either supernatural
forces or natural illness. Episodes of mass hysteria have a negative impact on the victims,their families, and those who witnessed the episodes, causing confusion, fear
and anxiety.
Guidelines were compiled to assist teachersand health workers to improve the
management and control of mass hysteria episodes in Lesotho. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/13286 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Tsekoa, Lineo |
| Contributors | Potgieter, Eugené |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (ix, 175 leaves) : illustrations, color map, color graphs, application/pdf |
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