Traditional health practitioners’ training needs on biomedical knowledge and skills in a South African township
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Traditional health practitioners’ training needs on biomedical knowledge and skills in a South African township | |
| Creator | Moeta, Mabitja Musie, Maurine R. Seretlo, Raikane J. Ledimo, Maikeleng Rasweswe, Melitah M. Makhavhu, Eugene Mulaudzi, Fhumulani M. | |
| Description | Background: Traditional health practitioners (THPs) play an important role in communities by providing necessary health services for a variety of health problems. Possessing complementary biomedical knowledge and skills is vital in saving lives of patients. However, less is known about biomedical knowledge and skills among THPs.Aim: This study aimed to explore and describe the training needs of THPs on biomedical knowledge and skills in urban townships in South Africa.Setting: The study was conducted in a township in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality of Gauteng province, South Africa.Methods: A qualitative, explorative, descriptive design with 18 THPs was employed through snowballing sampling. Data were collected through a lekgotla group discussion and thematic content analysis undertaken.Results: Themes that emanated include knowledge of the basic physiological functioning of the human body; biomedical knowledge and skills required for the assessment of patients; managing emergency health conditions and understanding diagnostic concepts used in traditional health practice versus biomedical systems.Conclusion: Traditional health practitioners have demonstrated interest in being trained on certain skills used within the biomedical system to care for patients. Performing the necessary first-aid skills by THPs will assist patients in the communities while waiting for emergency services or referrals. Provision of training programmes for THPs on first aid interventions during emergencies is therefore recommended.Contribution: The study revealed that capacitating THPs with biomedical knowledge and skills can improve their ability to promote healthy living and prevent health problems in communities where access to resources is limited. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2023-11-01 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/phcfm.v15i1.3923 | |
| Source | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine; Vol 15, No 1 (2023); 9 pages 2071-2936 2071-2928 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/3923/6592
https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/3923/6593
https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/3923/6594
https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/3923/6595
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