Views and experiences of traditional and Western medicine practitioners on potential collaboration in the care of people living with mental illness in Malawi

Abstract

Introduction
Collaboration between traditional and biomedical medicine can lead to holistic care and improved health outcomes for people with
mental illnesses. The current study aimed to explore the views and experiences of traditional and western medicine practitioners on
potential collaboration in the care of people living with mental illness in Blantyre, Malawi.
Method
A phenomenological qualitative research design was used. Data were collected using both one-on-one in-depth interviews (IDIs)
and focus group discussions (FGDs). Participants were traditional healers and western medicine practitioners in Blantyre, Malawi.
We conducted 10 in-depth interviews with traditional healers, 4 focus group discussions (2 for traditional healers and 2 for western
medicine practitioners) and 6 key informant interviews with leaders of the two groups. The sample was determined based on data
saturation. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. We used a combination of deductive and inductive coding.
Results
Five broad themes were identified from the data: experiences with collaboration, views on collaboration, models of collaboration,
barriers to collaboration, and factors that can facilitate collaboration. participants had no experience of formal collaboration between
traditional healers and western healthcare workers in the management of mental illness. However, some reported experience of
successful collaborations in other health areas such as safe motherhood, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Many participants showed a
positive attitude toward collaboration and were in support of it. Barriers to collaboration included negative attitudes and a lack of
resources. Factors that can facilitate collaboration were dialogue, training and respect. Referral and training were the preferred forms
of collaboration.
Conclusion
With proper structures and respectful dialogue, a collaboration between traditional and western medicine practitioners is possible in
Blantyre, Malawi.