Spiritual Healers’ Explanatory Models of Intellectual Disability in Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

Intellectual disability is common in low-and middle-income countries, but there are few healthcare services available. As part of a larger study, we investigated spiritual healers' beliefs about intellectual disability and family support in Cape Town, South Africa. All eight healers interviewed believed that the church has a role to play in assisting families of children with intellectual disability, but many held misconceptions about this condition. These findings show that there is an opportunity to engage with and further empower spiritual healers in this context, and probably in other, similar contexts, to do more to assist families with children with intellectual disability.

Decolonizing African Mental Health Laws: A Case for Kenya

“…110 Religion and spirituality have a crucial role in combating personal coloniality through the coping strategies of the parents and caregivers of disabled persons. 111 It is estimated that traditional and spiritual healers manage at least 80 per cent of the healthcare needs of rural inhabitants of East Africa. 112 The Constitution and the Persons with Disabilities Act allow persons with psychosocial disabilities the right to participate fully in cultural activities.…”