Traditional healing in South Africa: ethical implications for social work

Social Work in Health Care
Eleanor Ross

Abstract

Within health-care settings, culturally competent practice presupposes an understanding of the socio-cultural meanings attached to illness and disability and the people who are likely to be consulted with respect to providing health care and restoring well-being. Large numbers of South Africans are known to consult with traditional healers in preference to or in conjunction with western, allopathic health-care professionals. The present study represents a secondary analysis of data from various studies conducted on Black African, Muslim, Hindu and Chinese traditional healing systems in South Africa. Common themes that emerged from the analysis included the attribution of illnesses and disorders to spiritual factors, punishment and superstitious beliefs. Treatment approaches included the use of natural substances, prayer and rituals, and procedures that were designed to restore equilibrium. The participants also articulated their views on medical pluralism, collaboration between western and traditional health-care practitioners, and reasons why people consulted with traditional healers. The findings are discussed in terms of their ethical implications for social work.

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Citations

Oct 8, 2008·Nature Clinical Practice. Nephrology·Valerie A Luyckx, Saraladevi Naicker
May 26, 2011·The International Journal of Social Psychiatry·Ehab Ali SorkettiMohamad Hussain Habil
Apr 28, 2017·The International Journal of Social Psychiatry·AnMarie Kamanie RamkissoonGerard Hutchinson
Dec 4, 2019·The South African Journal of Communication Disorders. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif Vir Kommunikasieafwykings·Firdaus DawoodVedika Bagwandin
Dec 16, 2017·Journal of Global Oncology·Caroline DiorioStacey Marjerrison

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