Impact of traditional healers in the provision of mental health services in Nigeria

Anjorin, Omolayo; Wada, Yusuf Hassan

doi:10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104755

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Furthermore, regarding traditional medicine treatments, clinical studies conducted in other African countries (Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, etc.) have established that patients with mental disorders such as psychosis subjected to these treatments, alone or combined with biomedical treatments, recovered within a reasonable time [ 16 , 45 , 46 ]. Given that people trust these providers (i.e., traditional healers), one of the clever and deliberate strategies for expanding access to and use of mental health services could be to integrate these traditional healers into the science-based (mental) health care system, thereby increasing faith and trust in the system.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the mix of services for mental health care in urban DR Congo: a qualitative descriptive study

Mukala Mayoyo,

Criel,

Sow

et al. 2023

BMC Health Serv Res

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Background Mental health workers (MHWs) are exposed to conflicts of competence daily when performing tasks related to the provision of mental health services. This may be linked to a lack of understanding of their tasks as caregivers and providers. Furthermore, in most low-income settings, it is unclear how the available services are organized and coordinated to provide mental health care. To understand the above, this study aimed to identify the current mix of services for mental health care in the urban Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Methods A qualitative descriptive study was carried out in Lubumbashi from February to April 2021. We conducted 7 focus group discussions (FGDs) with 74 key informants (family members, primary care physicians, etc.) and 13 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with key informants (traditional healers, psychiatrists, etc.). We performed a qualitative content analysis, guided by an analytical framework, that led to the development of a comprehensive inventory of MHWs from the household level to specialized facilities, exploring their tasks in care delivery, identifying existing services, and defining their current organization. Results Analysis of transcripts from the FGDs and IDIs showed that traditional healers and family caregivers are the leading providers in Lubumbashi. The exploration of the tasks performed by MHWs revealed that lifestyle, traditional therapies, psychotherapy, and medication are the main types of care offered/advised to patients. Active informal caregivers do not currently provide care corresponding to their competencies. The rare mental health specialists available do not presently recognize the tasks of primary care providers and informal caregivers in care delivery, and their contribution is considered marginal. We identified five types of services: informal services, traditional therapy services, social services, primary care services, and psychiatric services. Analyses pointed out an inversion of the ideal mix of these services. Conclusions Our findings show a suboptimal mix of services for mental health and point to a clear lack of collaboration between MHWs. There is an urgent need to clearly define the tasks of MHWs, build the capacity of nonspecialists, shift mental health-related tasks to them, and raise awareness about collaborative care approaches.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the mix of services for mental health care in urban DR Congo: a qualitative descriptive study

Mukala Mayoyo,

Criel,

Sow

et al. 2023

BMC Health Serv Res

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“…People with psychiatric disorders frequently face social rejection in Nigerian communities and are stigmatised (Pederson et al, 2020). In primary psychiatric care, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) from traditional healers have a crucial role to play (Anjorin & Hassan Wada, 2022). Most people reside in rural areas, yet mental health facilities are mostly found in big cities.…”

Section: Background To the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitude, Perception, and Utilisation of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Caregivers of the Mentally Challenged Persons in Ebonyi State: A Cross-Sectional Study

E.O.¹,

N.E.²

2023

African Journal of Health, Nursing and Midwifery

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Background: Experts have been consistent that the overall functioning and productivity of individuals depend on their mental health status. The rising cases of mental health challenges are fast becoming a threat to public health, particularly in developing countries. Evidence shows that over 35% of the global population suffers mental health issues. The burden is higher in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria accounting for 13% prevalence. Earlier studies have demonstrated that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) could effectively treat mentally ill patients and other chronic health problems. However, little is known about the caregivers’ attitudes, perceptions, and CAM utilisation in Nigeria. Method: 381 caregivers of mentally ill persons in Abakaliki were recruited into this study. The modified attitude toward Mental Illness Questionnaire was administered to the participants to elicit relevant information on CAM use. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Most participants (92%) had good knowledge of CAM and would encourage their mentally ill relatives to use CAM. In comparison, 89% have either used CAM or used CAM on mentally ill relatives. CAM utilisation was associated with good knowledge and referral by other users. The common CAM therapies included herbal drugs, spiritual intervention, and alternative medical systems such as homeopathic medicine. It was concluded that the informal caregivers for mentally ill patients knew about CAM and were using them. Studies on the effectiveness and safety of CAM are required to establish their benefits in treating mental illness.

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“…These providers offer psychosocial therapies that can ease distress and enhance well-being for people with mild anxiety and depression. Interestingly, it was observed that patients who consulted non-orthodox providers tended to seek care earlier than those who sought care in a health facility 18 19. Rural patients may prefer non-orthodox practitioners for various reasons.…”

Section: The Role Of Informal Providersmentioning

confidence: 99%

How to build bridges for Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria by linking formal and informal health providers

Christian,

Keshinro

et al. 2023

BMJ Glob Health

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Impact of traditional healers in the provision of mental health services in Nigeria

Cited by 9 publications

References 15 publications

Understanding the mix of services for mental health care in urban DR Congo: a qualitative descriptive study

Understanding the mix of services for mental health care in urban DR Congo: a qualitative descriptive study

Attitude, Perception, and Utilisation of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Caregivers of the Mentally Challenged Persons in Ebonyi State: A Cross-Sectional Study

How to build bridges for Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria by linking formal and informal health providers

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