Evaluating traditional healers knowledge and practices related to HIV testing and treatment in South Africa
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19517153 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Gavin George (0000-0001-7258-8470, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, corresponding author), Ethel Chitindingu (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Jeff Gow (0000-0002-5726-298X, University of Southern Queensland) |
| Year | 2013 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 45-45 |
| Publication date | 2013-12-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | BMC International Health and Human Rights (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1472-698X • E-ISSN: 1472-698X |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1186/1472-698x-13-45 |
| PMID | 24152384 |
| PMCID | PMC4015557 |
| OpenAlex | W2130086243 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 7 |
| References cited | 10 |
BACKGROUND: In a context of inadequate human resources for health, this study investigated whether traditional healers have the knowledge and skill base which could be utilised to assist in the scaling up of HIV prevention and treatment services in South Africa. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional research design a total of 186 traditional healers from the Northern Cape province were interviewed. Responses on the following topics were obtained: socio-demographic characteristics; HIV training, experience and practices; and knowledge of HIV transmission, prevention and symptoms. Descriptive statistics and chi square tests were used to analyse the responses. RESULTS: Traditional healers' knowledge of HIV and AIDS was not as high as expected. Less than 50% of both trained and untrained traditional healers would treat a person they suspected of being HIV positive. However, a total of 167 (89%) respondents agreed using a condom can prevent HIV and a majority of respondents also agreed that having one sexual partner (127, 68.8%) and abstaining from sex can prevent HIV (145, 78.8%). Knowledge of treatment practices was better with statistically significant results being obtained. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that traditional healers could be used for prevention as well as referring HIV positive individuals for treatment. Traditional healers were enthusiastic about the possibility of collaborating with bio-medical practitioners in the prevention and care of HIV and AIDS patients. This is significant considering they already service the health needs of a large percentage of the South African population. However, further development of training programmes and materials for them on HIV and AIDS related issues would seem necessary
Alternative medicine · Condom · Cross-sectional study · Descriptive statistics · Developing country · Environmental health · Family medicine · Health care · Population · Public health · Traditional medicine · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · HIV/AIDS Impact and Responses · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Nursing
Traditional Healing, Biomedicine and the Treatment of HIV/Aids
Reducing the overall HIV-burden in South Africa
“I don’t know if you have searched through the scriptures to find a reference on HIV/Aids. I mean there isn’t going to be one, right?”
Traditional health practitioners’ management of HIV/Aids in rural South Africa in the era of widespread antiretroviral therapy
“I did not see a need to get tested before, everything was going well with my health”
“It is better to die”
Latent and manifest empiricism in Q'eqchi' Maya healing
Patients Consulting Traditional Health Practioners In The Context Of Hiv/Aids In Urban Areas In Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Traditional medicine in Bulamogi county, Uganda
Trying to practice safer sex
Disclosure of HIV Status
The experience of an Aids prevention program focused on South African traditional healers
| Unique citing works | 7 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,64 |
| Citation span | 2015 - 2023 (9) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 7 |