Keywords
awareness
child health
knowledge
traditional medicine
How to Cite
Abstract
Introduction
Traditional healthcare practices, including cultural rituals and the use of traditional medicine, are common among Africans. Some caregivers use both traditional and allopathic medicine for child health; however, they are reluctant to disclose this to allopathic practitioners, fearing negative judgment. This lack of openness causes tension between the two systems and creates a barrier to successful and safe integration.
Purpose
The purpose of the study was to explore allopathic healthcare practitioners' awareness, knowledge, and utilization of traditional child healthcare practices in a township setting in South Africa.
Methods
A quantitative exploratory and descriptive design was employed in this study. An all-inclusive sampling technique was applied to select 70 allopathic practitioners; however, only 54 participated. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using SPSS.
Results
Most (98.1%) practitioners were nurses, with one medical officer (1.9%). Results revealed that 77.4% of practitioners were aware of traditional healthcare practices used for child health, with 72.2% identifying specific childhood conditions, such as hlogwana (sunken fontanelle), believed to be treatable only by traditional methods. Practitioners with 0–10 years (25.9%) and 11–20 years (27.7%) of experience knew of children’s illnesses that are believed to be treatable only by traditional health practices, χ²(12, N = 54) = 28.018, p = .021.^1 Notably, 56.6% of respondents reported having used traditional practices themselves, with utilisation significantly associated with older age, χ²(12, N = 53) = 24.143, p = .019.^2
Conclusion
The findings show allopathic practitioners’ knowledge, awareness, and use of traditional health practices. They reveal the coexistence of traditional and allopathic healthcare systems in South Africa, driven by cultural familiarity, accessibility, and generational practices. However, tensions persist due to allopathic practitioners' lack of knowledge about potential herb–drug interactions and the stigmatization surrounding traditional medicine. To enhance allopathic practitioners' cultural competence, there is a need to integrate traditional healthcare practices into medical and nursing curricula; develop continuous professional development programmes on traditional medicine's benefits and risks; and create forums for exchanging knowledge between traditional healers and allopathic practitioners to ensure patient safety.
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