Traditional healers and mental health in South Africa.

Journal: International psychiatry : bulletin of the Board of International Affairs of the Royal College of Psychiatrists

Volume: 4

Issue: 4

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  Emeritus Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, South Africa, email zabow@networld.co.za.

Abstract summary 

Psychiatric patients access both indigenous healers and services rendered by psychiatric facilities in South Africa. The various groups of healers which are available are clearly not all acceptable to the whole population and variable experiences are reported with different categories of healer and the different treatments provided. An increasing collaboration between psychiatric services and indigenous healers is becoming evident, as in other health services. Reports indicate that many African psychiatric patients seek treatment from indigenous healers while attending psychiatric clinics, in both rural and urban regions. This has led to much discussion and differing viewpoints as to the possible benefits and disadvantages of collaboration and simultaneous use of different treatment modalities. Included in this is the question of the medical competence of traditional healers and the possible neglect of serious conditions.

Authors & Co-authors:  Zabow Tuviah T

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Ensink, K. & Robertson, B. (1996) Indigenous categories of distress and dysfunction in South African Xhosa children and adolescents as described by indigenous healers. Transcultural Psychiatry, 33, 137–172.
Authors :  1
Identifiers
Doi : 
SSN : 1749-3676
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
South Africa
Publication Country
England