An investigation into the attitudes and opinions of traditional healers from Makhaza, Khayelitsha regarding collaboration with healthcare practitioners who use western medical methodologies
| dc.contributor.author | Ganya, Babalwa | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-11-21T12:45:41Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-11-21T12:45:41Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | |
| dc.description.abstract | African traditional medicines play an important role in addressing the health needs of African populations. Research has shown that 80% of South Africans use African traditional medicines and the services of African traditional healers (Mendu and Ross, 2019; Akpa-Inyang et al., 2022, p.2). This qualitative study investigated the attitudes and opinions of African traditional healers from Makhaza, Khayelitsha regarding collaboration with healthcare practitioners who use western medical methodologies. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten (10) African traditional healers recruited through snowball sampling. The data was manually transcribed and analysed through thematic analysis. Ethics approval was sought from the Humanities and Social Science Research Ethics Committee at the University of the Western Cape, and permission was granted by the respective African traditional healers. Participants were informed and assured that pseudonyms and not their real names would be used, confidentiality was assured, and their participation was voluntary. Informed consent and an information sheet were provided. The study is grounded in the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) theoretical framework, which recognises the importance of African traditional knowledge and practices in addressing the health needs of African communities. The study's findings indicated that African traditional healers knew there was no formal collaboration or working relationship with health care practitioners. The findings also indicated that African traditional healers were open to the idea of collaboration as the benefits to a patient were emphasised. Mutual respect and acknowledgement were seen as an important part of collaboration. The findings of the study also suggested that African traditional healers should be recognised and acknowledged as important healthcare providers. The study is prompted and influenced by the socio economic disparities and inequities of the healthcare system. The study contributes to the growing body of decolonial scholarship as it relates to healthcare in Africa. The study tries to amplify the experiences and knowledge of the African healing system. The study also acknowledges that it only looked at a one-sided perspective, which is that of African traditional healers and not the views of healthcare practitioners who use western medical methodologies | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10566/21459 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Univeristy of the Western Cape | |
| dc.subject | African traditional healing | |
| dc.subject | African traditional medicine | |
| dc.subject | African traditional healer | |
| dc.subject | Western medicine | |
| dc.subject | Collaboration | |
| dc.title | An investigation into the attitudes and opinions of traditional healers from Makhaza, Khayelitsha regarding collaboration with healthcare practitioners who use western medical methodologies | |
| dc.type | Thesis |