Integrating western orthodox and indigenous medicine

Pearce, Tola Olu

doi:10.1016/0277-9536(82)90291-x

Cited by 15 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…The major finding of this study is that, fundamentally, a power struggle underlies the relationship between both kinds of practitioners giving rise to the more superficial elements of distrust, disrespect, rivalry and lack of mutual understanding. This power differential has been shaped by numerous historical and structural forces, including colonisation and the imposition of a Western allopathic health system, which introduced tensions between the 'functional strength' of Indigenous medicine (reflected by its widespread use) and the 'structural superiority' of allopathic medicine gained through legal, financial and political support of colonial administrations [38,39].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This process was particularly evident in health knowledge systems [83], thus enabling the reassertion and reproduction of allopathic medicine within social structures, institutional practices and discourse [84]. It manifested as the labelling of African Indigenous medicine as primitive [33] and making it illegal [36] whilst simultaneously establishing and validating allopathic medicine [39,83]. Whilst colonisation ended, coloniality mindsets remained ingrained [83,85],; following the independence of African nations, subsequent governments global health actors [86], continue to give higher status and greater support to allopathic medicine [87,88].…”

Section: Power Differential As a Source Of Power Strugglementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Subsequent to the introduction of Christianity and scientific rationality [33,34], Indigenous medicine was discouraged [3], being framed by colonial administrators as witchcraft [35], primitive [36], heathen [28], and illegal [37]. Thus, in spite of the 'functional strength' of Indigenous medicine due to its distribution and widespread use, allopathic medicine was bestowed 'structural superiority' through legal, financial and political support [38,39].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indigenous health systems have been found to be more accessible (favourable practitioner-toservice user ratios and greater geographic access) [8,[40][41][42], more affordable (lower out-of-pocket expenses) [43], and provide more holistic care [40]. However, the most important reason for continued reliance on Indigenous medicine is its cultural relevance to the population it serves, making it capable of meeting their psychological and social needs [22,27], explaining why some people are prepared to travel further and pay higher fees to consult IHPs in spite of the availability of closer and less expensive allopathic services [39,[44][45][46].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Collaboration between Indigenous and allopathic health systems has been promoted as a way to achieve universal health coverage [4,39,47,48], enhance coordination of care and referral systems [49], promote patient safety [50,51], better distribute patient demand [48,52], facilitate inter-professional learning, and boost the overall quality of the healthcare provided [53]. The term 'collaboration' remains widely used but poorly defined [54].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The relationship between Indigenous and allopathic health practitioners in Africa and its implications for collaboration: a qualitative synthesis

Oseni

Shannon

2020

Global Health Action

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Background: There have been increasing calls for collaboration between Indigenous health practitioners (IHPs) and allopathic health practitioners (AHPs) in Africa. Despite this, very few successful systems exist to facilitate formal collaboration. Direct relationships between providers, and at a health systems level are crucial to successful collaboration, but the nature and extent of these relationships have yet to be adequately explored. Objective: To explore the relationship between IHPs and AHPs in Africa, and to discuss the implications of this for future collaboration. Methods: An interpretive qualitative synthesis approach, combining elements of thematic analysis, meta-ethnography, and grounded theory, was used to systematically bring together findings of qualitative studies addressing the topic of collaboration between Indigenous and allopathic health practitioners in Africa. Results: A total of 1,765 papers were initially identified, 1,748 were excluded after abstract, full text and duplicate screening. Five additional studies were identified through references. Thus, 22 papers were included in the final analysis. We found that the relationship between Indigenous and allopathic health practitioners is defined by a power struggle which gives rise to lack of mutual understanding, rivalry, distrust, and disrespect. Conclusion: The power struggle which defines the relationship between IHPs and AHPs in Africa is a hindrance to their collaboration and as such could partly account for the limited success of efforts to foster collaboration to date. Future efforts to foster collaboration between IHPs and AHPs in Africa must aim to balance the power disparity between them if collaboration is to be successful. Since this would be a novel approach, decision-makers and organisations who trial this power balancing approach to facilitate collaboration should evaluate resultant policies and interventions to ascertain their feasibility and efficacy in fostering collaboration, and the lessons learnt should be shared.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Power Differential As a Source Of Power Strugglementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The relationship between Indigenous and allopathic health practitioners in Africa and its implications for collaboration: a qualitative synthesis

Oseni

Shannon

2020

Global Health Action

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Existing Roles of Traditional Healers (mor baan) in Southern Thailand

2011

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Traditional healers (mor baan) played an important role in Thai health long before the introduction of Western medicine. Although modern health professional play a key role of health care provider of Thai health care system, traditional healers and their practice still exist in most rural areas of Thailand. In this article, we address the roles and practices of traditional healers in southern Thailand. An ethnographic method was employed. This approach is the hallmark method used to describe the role and the practice of traditional healers and to grasp in-depth understanding of their everyday life. Participation observation and unstructured interview with 18 traditional healers were conducted. Thematic analysis method was used to analyse the data. Most of the traditional healers chose their role because they were influenced by their ancestors, although a few others chose it because of individual interests and a desire to help ill people. All are trained in multiple skills, using supernatural spirits, ceremonies and natural plant products as resources for counteracting various health problems. They refer patients to modern hospitals or other healers if they cannot adequately manage illness themselves. Their service provision is flexible and based on a holistic approach that suits people's lifestyles and needs. The role of traditional healer tends not to attract the interest of younger generations, although traditional healers have contributed greatly to people's health. Their presence improves people's access to healthcare and offers an alternative to modern medicine, which often has a limited role. We conclude that the services of traditional healers should be incorporated into contemporary healthcare provision of Thai health care system.

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Western trained nurses' assessment of the different categories of traditional healers in southwestern Nigeria

Odebiyi

1990

International Journal of Nursing Studies

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Integrating western orthodox and indigenous medicine

Cited by 15 publications

References 1 publication

The relationship between Indigenous and allopathic health practitioners in Africa and its implications for collaboration: a qualitative synthesis

The relationship between Indigenous and allopathic health practitioners in Africa and its implications for collaboration: a qualitative synthesis

Existing Roles of Traditional Healers (mor baan) in Southern Thailand

Western trained nurses' assessment of the different categories of traditional healers in southwestern Nigeria

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