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| Research article summary (published 30 May 2009): |
Traditional healers in the treatment of common mental disorders in South Africa.
Full Abstract
There are few population-level insights into the use of traditional healers and other forms of alternative care for the treatment of common mental disorders in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined the extent to which alternative practitioners are consulted, and predictors of traditional healer visits. A national survey was conducted with 3651 adult South Africans between 2002 and 2004, using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) to generate DSM-IV diagnoses for common mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. A minority of participants with a lifetime DSM-IV diagnosis obtained treatment from Western (29%) or alternative (20%) practitioners. Traditional healers were consulted by 9% of the respondents and 11% consulted a religious or spiritual advisor. Use of traditional healers in the full sample was predicted by older age, black race, unemployment, lower education, and having an anxiety or a substance use disorder. Alternative practitioners, including traditional healers and religious advisors, appear to play a notable role in the delivery of mental health care in South Africa.
Author information
Author/s: Sorsdahl, Katherine (K); Stein, Dan J (DJ); Grimsrud, Anna (A); Seedat, Soraya (S); Flisher, Alan J (AJ); Williams, David R (DR); Myer, Landon (L);
Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. katherine.sorsdahl(-atsign-)uct.ac.za
Grants: R01-DA016558 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; R01-MH059575 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R01-MH069864 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R01-TW006481 (Agency:FIC NIH HHS) ; R01MH070884 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R13-MH066849 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Journal: The Journal of nervous and mental disease (J Nerv Ment Dis), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2009-Jun; vol 197 (issue 6) : pp 434-41
Dates: Created 2009/06/15; Completed 2009/06/30;
PMID: 19525744, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 6/30/2009, IMS Date: 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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