An investigation into the practices of traditional and faith healers in an urban setting in South Africa

Abstract

There is a lack of knowledge on traditional and faith healer's fees, practice and attitudes towards working within the government health sector. Therefore this study is aimed at investigating the above in an urban area in the Northern Province of South Africa. The objectives are: (1) to identify the demographic and practice characteristics of traditional and faith healers in an urban setting, (2) identify the conditions and problems commonly treated by traditional and faith healers, and (3) assess the referral details and willingness to work within the biomedical sector, the costs involved as well as the training needs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with traditional healers (n=20) and faith healers (n=23) in an urban area in the Northern Province (South Africa) on socio-demographic characteristics, practice particulars, training, areas of specialisation, case load, the five commonest reasons for consultation, referral information, fees structure and attitudes towards government health service. As a result, it was found that both traditional and faith healers seem to treat a variety of problems and illnesses. Traditional healers seem to be more specialised in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and children's diseases, whereas faith healers are more specialised in substance abuse and chronic conditions as well as social problems. Both traditional and faith healers seem, at an equal level, to deal with witchcraft/sorcery related problems, physical disorders and mental disorders. Both traditional and faith healers hardly referred or got referred any patients in the last 4 weeks. Faith healers saw on average much more new (67) and old patients (54) patients in the last 4 weeks than traditional healers did (new patients: 9.6 and old patients: 6.1). Generally traditional healers seem to be more willing than faith healers to work within the government health service, irrespective of the place: in own premises, in a general practice surgery, or in hospital with outpatients .