How Indigenous Belief Systems Guide Help-seeking Behavior for Psychosocial and Medical Problems: A South African Perspective

Q2 Social Sciences

Studies on Ethno-Medicine Pub Date : 2017-04-03 DOI:10.1080/09735070.2017.1325175

N. Vawda

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引用次数: 2

Abstract

ABSTRACT Advertisements are placed in newspapers by people identifying themselves as “doctors” or “healers” in South Africa. This paper aims to identify what services are advertised, who offers these services, and the methods used to diagnose and treat these conditions. Adverts were randomly collected from a free community newspaper and analyzed by two independent coders using thematic data analysis. The results indicate that services were offered for various conditions such as relationship issues, the resolution of financial problems, winning lotteries, getting jobs or promotions, the removal of bewitchment, and help with medical and legal problems. Various treatments are also advertised. Findings are conceptualized within a South African indigenous belief system, which attributes causality of ill-health or misfortune to bewitchment and healing through traditional practices. It is recommended that “Western” trained healthcare providers be aware of the availability of these services and their use by “Westernized” or globalized Africans for problem resolution.

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土著信仰系统如何指导心理社会和医疗问题的求助行为:南非的观点

摘要在南非，自称“医生”或“治疗师”的人在报纸上刊登广告。本文旨在确定广告中宣传的服务，谁提供这些服务，以及诊断和治疗这些疾病的方法。广告是从一份免费的社区报纸上随机收集的，并由两名独立的编码人员使用主题数据分析进行分析。结果表明，为各种情况提供了服务，如关系问题、解决财务问题、中奖、获得工作或晋升、消除蛊惑以及帮助解决医疗和法律问题。还宣传了各种治疗方法。研究结果是在南非土著信仰体系中概念化的，该体系将健康不良或不幸的因果关系归因于通过传统习俗进行的蛊惑和治愈。建议受过“西方”培训的医疗保健提供者了解这些服务的可用性，以及“西方化”或全球化的非洲人对这些服务的使用，以解决问题。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Studies on Ethno-Medicine Social Sciences-Cultural Studies

CiteScore

0.50

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Studies on Ethno-Medicine is a peer reviewed, internationally circulated journal. It publishes reports of original research, theoretical articles, timely reviews, brief communications, book reviews and other publications in the interdisciplinary field of ethno-medicine. The journal serves as a forum for physical, social and life scientists as well as for health professionals. The transdisciplinary areas covered by this journal include, but are not limited to, Physical Sciences, Anthropology, Sociology, Geography, Life Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Botany, Agriculture, Home Science, Zoology, Genetics, Biology, Medical Sciences, Public Health, Demography and Epidemiology. The journal publishes basic, applied and methodologically oriented research from all such areas. The journal is committed to prompt review, and priority publication is given to manuscripts with novel or timely findings, and to manuscript of unusual interest. Further, the manuscripts are categorised under three types, namely - Regular articles, Short Communications and Reviews. The researchers are invited to submit original papers in English (papers published elsewhere or under consideration elsewhere shall not be considered).