Awarness of diabetes mellitus among African traditional healers in the Nelson Mandela Metropole: research

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus, a chronic illness, affects approximately 8% of black South Africans. Traditional healers are an integral part of the lifestyle of the African people. Approximately 80% of black patients consult a western doctor only after having consulted a traditional healer, yet traditional healers remain an untapped resource in South Africa. The primary objective of the study was to determine the clinical knowledge pertaining to diabetes mellitus of traditional healers in the Nelson Mandela Metropole (NMM), and to educate the healers on diabetes mellitus through the medium of interactive workshops. Three workshops were held with the healers over a seventeen-month period. The target population consisted of all traditional healers of the NMM interested in participating in the research project. The results obtained indicated that healers of the NMM had a basic knowledge about diabetes and a willingness to learn more about conventional aspects of the disease. At a feedback workshop the healers indicated that they were using the information gained during preceding workshops and that they have begun imparting the knowledge gained to other traditional healers and to their apprentices. A relationship has been established between healers of the NMM and the University of Port Elizabeth (UPE) and Port Elizabeth Technicon.


Diabetes mellitus, ๋n chroniese siekte, affekteer na raming 8% van Suid-Afrika se swart bevolking. Tradisionele genesers is ๋n integrale deel van die lewenswyse van diศ bevolkingsgroep. Bykans 80% van alle swart pasiฮnte besoek ๋n tradisionele geneser voor hulle hul tot ๋n westerse geneesheer wend. Ten spyte hiervan bly tradisionele genesers ๋n onbenutte hulpbron in Suid-Afrika. Die primอre doelwitte van diศ navorsing was om die kliniese kennis van tradisionele genesers ten opsigte van diabetes te bepaal en om hulle verder oor diabetes te onderrig deur middel van interaktiewe werkswinkels. Drie werkswinkels is oor ๋n tydperk van sewentien maande gehou. Die teikengroep was ๋n groep genesers wat geิnteresseerd was om aan die navorsing deel te neem. Die navorsing toon dat genesers in die NMM oor ๋n basiese kennis van diabetes mellitus beskik en gewillig was om meer van die konvensionele aspek van diabetes te leer. In ๋n terugvoerbespreking het die genesers te kenne gegee dat die inligting wat hulle tydens die werkswinkels verkry het, aktief deur hulle gebruik word, asook oorgedra word aan ander genesers en vakleerlinge. Die navorsing het die basis vir ๋n goeie verstandhouding tussen die tradisionele genesers, die Universiteit van Port Elizabeth and die Port Elizabeth Technikon gelอ.


Key Words: Traditional healer, Diabetes mellitus, Interactive workshops, Nelson Mandela Metropole, South Africa


Health SA Gesondheid Vol.9(1) 2004: 27-35