scholarly journals Evidence of past and current collaborations between traditional health practitioners and biomedical health practitioners: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e043452
Author(s):  
Ngcwalisa Amanda Jama ◽  
Anam Nyembezi ◽  
Uta Lehmann
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Open Access ◽  
Health System ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Open Access Journal ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
Traditional Health Practitioners ◽  
Health Practitioners

IntroductionHealthcare seekers around the globe use more than one healthcare system, with most using the traditional and the Western approaches concurrently. To date, little collaboration between the two systems has taken place within the mental health space compared with other areas of medicine. In order to inform integrating plans for traditional health practitioners and biomedical health practitioners in the South African mental health system, it is important to know which models of collaboration are used in other medical settings and contexts. This study aims to document global evidence on collaboration practices between traditional health practitioners and biomedical professionals when working with various health conditions.Methods and analysisThis scoping review will be guided by an improved Arksey and O’Malley framework, the 2010 Levac et al methodological framework and the 2017 Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. A systematic literature search will be carried out using seven different databases, EMBASE, PubMed, LILACS MEDLINE, APA PsycArticles, CINAHL Plus, Academic Search Complete and Scopus, in addition to the WHO repository, bibliographical search engines, and Open Access Theses and Dissertations. Moreover, the references of relevant publications between January 1978 and March 2020 will be scanned. Two reviewers will independently screen articles for eligibility based on the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thematic analysis and descriptive numerical analysis will be performed using ATLAS.ti V.8 and Excel software, respectively. The results for this review will be presented using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis: Extension for Scoping Review.Ethics and disseminationThis study will not require ethics approval because publicly available material will be used. Study findings will be published in an open-access journal and be presented to other key health system stakeholders and academic research gatherings.

scholarly journals Perceptions of Ghanaian traditional health practitioners, primary health care workers, service users and caregivers regarding collaboration for mental health care

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon Nyame ◽  
Edward Adiibokah ◽  
Yasmin Mohammed ◽  
Victor C. Doku ◽  
Caleb Othieno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
Healthcare Needs ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Traditional Health Practitioners ◽  
Health Practitioners

Abstract Background In low- and middle-income countries, the paucity of conventional health services means that many people with mental health problems rely on traditional health practitioners (THPs). This paper examines the possibility of forging partnerships at the Primary Health Care (PHC) level in two geopolitical regions of Ghana, to maximize the benefits to both health systems. Methods The study was a qualitative cross-sectional survey. Eight (8) focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted between February and April 2014. The views of THPs, PHC providers, service users (i.e. patients) and their caregivers, on the perceived benefits, barriers and facilitators of forging partnerships were examined. A thematic framework approach was employed for analysis. Results The study revealed that underlying the widespread approval of forging partnerships, there were mutual undertones of suspicion. While PHC providers were mainly concerned that THPs may incur harms to service users (e.g., through delays in care pathways and human rights abuses), service users and their caregivers highlighted the failure of conventional medical care to meet their healthcare needs. There are practical challenges to these collaborations, including the lack of options to adequately deal with human rights issues such as some patients being chained and exposed to the vagaries of the weather at THPs. There is also the issue of the frequent shortage of psychotropic medication at PHCs. Conclusion Addressing these barriers could enhance partnerships. There is also a need to educate all providers, which should include sessions clarifying the potential value of such partnerships.

scholarly journals Perceptions and experiences of allopathic health practitioners on collaboration with traditional health practitioners in post-apartheid South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon M. Nemutandani ◽  
Stephen J. Hendricks ◽  
Mavis F. Mulaudzi
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Quality Of Health Care ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
Traditional Health Practitioners ◽  
Health Practitioners

Background: The indigenous health system was perceived to be a threat to the allopathic health system. It was associated with ‘witchcraft’, and actively discouraged, and repressed through prohibition laws. The introduction of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act No 22 of 2007 brought hope that those centuries of disrespect for traditional health systems would change. The study examined the perceptions and experiences of allopathic health practitioners on collaboration with traditional health practitioners in post-apartheid South Africa.Methods: Qualitative descriptive research methodology was used to collect data from allopathic health practitioners employed by Limpopo’s Department of Health. In-depth focus group discussions and meetings were conducted between January and August 2014. Perceptions and experiences of working with traditional health practitioners were explored. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of Pretoria and approval from the Department’s Research Committee.Results: Dominant views were that the two health systems were not compatible with respect to the science involved and the source of knowledge. Overall, quality of health care will be compromised if traditional health practitioners are allowed to work in public health facilities.Conclusion: Allopathic health practitioners do not appear ready to work with traditional health practitioners, citing challenges of quality of health care, differences regarding concept of sciences and source of knowledge; and lack of policy on collaboration. Lack of exposure to traditional medicine seems to impede opportunities to accept and work with traditional healers. Exposure and training at undergraduate level regarding the traditional health system is recommended. Policy guidelines on collaborations are urgently required.

Mapping evidence of collaboration between traditional health practitioners and biomedically trained healthcare professionals in the reduction of antimicrobial resistance in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic scoping review protocol

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
AGANZE GLOIRE-AIME MUSHEBENGE ◽  
MUKANDA Gedeon KADIMA ◽  
TIVANI MASHAMBA-THOMPSON ◽  
MANIMBULU NLOOTO
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Treatment Failure ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Mapping Procedure ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
Traditional Health Practitioners ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background The overuse of prescribed antimicrobials, concurrent use of both traditional medicine and prescribed antimicrobials has been shown to lead to antimicrobial resistance. The absence of collaboration between traditional health practitioners and biomedically trained healthcare professionals can contribute to antimicrobial resistance, treatment failure, overdose, toxicity and misadministration. This scoping review explores evidence on collaboration between traditional health practitioners and biomedically trained healthcare professionals in the reduction of antimicrobial resistance and treatment failure in bacterial and viral diseases. Methods/design We will search electronic databases such as Science Direct, Google scholar, PubMed, MEDLINE via EBSCOhost. We will also search reference lists of included studies. A two-stage mapping procedure will be carried out. Stage one (1) will consist of title, abstracts and full article screening, respectively. A piloted screening form guided by the defined eligibility criteria will be used. Stage two (2), data will be extracted from the included studies. Parallel screening and data extraction will be conducted by two reviewers. Mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) will be used to assess the quality of the included studies. NVIVO version 11 will be employed to aid pertinent thematic analysis. The outcomes of interest will be as follows: Primary outcome will be the prevention and the reduction of antimicrobial resistance. Secondary outcomes: Effective collaboration between traditional healthcare practitioners and biomedically healthcare professionals. Discussion This review anticipates uncovering pertinent publications reporting the evidence of collaboration between traditional health practitioners and biomedically trained healthcare professionals in the reduction of antimicrobial resistance in sub-Saharan Africa. The sum up of evidence acquired from the included studies will help guide for future research. The result from the research will be print and electronically exposed.

A framework of co-operative practice between radiation oncologists and traditional health practitioners in the management of patients with cancer in KwaZulu-Natal province

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Pauline Busisiwe Nkosi
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
Radiation Oncologists ◽  
Traditional Health Practitioners ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Health Practitioners

Background Cancer is a global concern because it affects and kills millions of people worldwide. In South Africa, patients frequently move between traditional health practitioners and radiation oncologists to seek cure of cancer, yet these health practitioners do not communicate with each other. Consequently, the treatment is often disrupted and imcomplete therefore compromising the survival of patients. The future of the health system in effective treatment of patients with cancer is dependent on health practitioners’ changing fundamentally in their co-operative practice. The aim of this study was to explore the practice of traditional health practitioners in the treatment of patients with cancer in order to describe a viable co-operative practice between them and radiation oncologists and ultimately develop traditional health practitioners as a component in the health system in the treatment of patients with cancer. Methods An exploratory descriptive qualitative study using an interpretive phenomenological approach was employed to collect data from 28 traditional health practitioners and four radiation oncologists in KwaZulu-Natal utilising snowball and stratified purposive samplings for the former and latter, respectively. Semi-structured face-to-face and group interviews were employed to collect primary data from traditional health practitioners and data from the radiation oncologists were collected through face-to-face and email interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework analysis. Results It emerged that the referral of patients, in addition to external conditions, individual attributes, trusting attitudes of participants as well as organisational dynamics and philosophy of practice, were the main categories used by participants in their understanding of co-operative practice in KwaZulu-Natal. The patient is the main player in the co-operation between parties, and coordinates the health practitioners’ activities during treatment. Effective co-operative practice is time consuming and requires commitment, co-operation and training of the participants. Conclusion Considering the problems associated with treatment of cancer when patients move freely between the traditional health practitioners and radiation oncologists, resulting in interruptions in treatment, co-operative practice between the two health practitioners is paramount. The development of traditional health practitioners could result in extending their role in the management of cancer and therefore increasing the accessibility of cancer services. It follows that a workable practice between traditional health practitioners and radiation oncologists in the treatment of patients with cancer could be an inclusive health system where the parties work in parallel with the patient being the main actor in the collaboration. There should be a healthy relationship between all those involved in the collaboration in order to facilitate referral of patients between the health practitioners.

scholarly journals Legislative landscape for traditional health practitioners in Southern African development community countries: a scoping review

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e029958
Author(s):  
Amber Louise Abrams ◽  
Torkel Falkenberg ◽  
Christa Rautenbach ◽  
Mosa Moshabela ◽  
Busisiwe Shezi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Southern African Development Community ◽  
African Development ◽  
Legal Documents ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
Traditional Health Practitioners ◽  
Scoping Reviews ◽  
Health Practitioners

Background and objectivesGlobally, contemporary legislation surrounding traditional health practitioners (THPs) is limited. This is also true for the member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The main aim of this study is to map and review THP-related legislation among SADC countries. In order to limit the scope of the review, the emphasis is on defining THPs in terms of legal documents.MethodsThis scoping review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews methods. Two independent reviewers reviewed applicable legal definitions of THPs by searching the Southern African Legal Information Institute (SAFLII) database in April 2018 for legislation and bills. To identify additional legislation applicable in countries not listed on SAFLII and/or further relevant SADC legislation, the search engines, Google and PubMed, were used in August 2018 and results were reviewed by two independent reviewers. Full texts of available policy and legal documents were screened to identify policies and legislation relating to the regulation of THPs. Legislation was deemed relevant if it was a draft of or promulgated legislation relating to THPs.ResultsFour of 14 Southern African countries have legislation relating to THPs. Three countries, namely South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, have acknowledged the roles and importance of THPs in healthcare delivery by creating a council to register and formalise practices, although they have not operationalised nor registered and defined THPs. In contrast, Tanzania has established a definition couched in terms that acknowledge the context-specific and situational knowledge of THPs, while also outlining methods and the importance of local recognition. Tanzanian legislation; thus, provides a definition of THP that specifically operationalises THPs, whereas legislation in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe allocates the power to a council to decide or recognise who a THP is; this council can prescribe procedures to be followed for the registration of a THP.ConclusionsThis review highlights the differences and similarities between the various policies and legislation pertaining to THPs in SADC countries. Legislation regarding THPs is available in four of the 14 SADC countries. While South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia and Zimbabwe have legislation that provides guidance as to THP recognition, registration and practices, THPs continue to be loosely defined in most of these countries. Not having an exact definition for THPs may hamper the promotion and inclusion of THPs in national health systems, but it may also be something that is unavoidable given the tensions between lived practices and rigid legalistic frameworks.

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