Social interactions within the Sudanese healthcare system: traditional healers and psychiatrists.

Journal: BJPsych international

Volume: 20

Issue: 2

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  Researcher, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan. Researcher, Faculty of Medicine, Ibn Sina University, Khartoum, Sudan. Email: osman@gmail.com.

Abstract summary 

From a cultural perspective, traditional healing has had a substantial impact on psychiatric management in rural African communities, but the services provided by traditional healers are not integrated with the mental health services provided by primary healthcare. In Sudan, modern psychiatry has seen minimal development beyond the capital city of Khartoum. In rural communities, traditional health practitioners (THPs) are the first point of entry to mental health services. Effective collaboration between THPs and consultant psychiatrists should be encouraged by the introduction of health education that targets THPs, especially in rural communities. This would facilitate the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare and help achieve universal health coverage for psychiatric disorders in Sudan.

Authors & Co-authors:  Altamih Randa Ahmed Abdalrheem RAA Elmahi Osman Kamal Osman OKO

Study Outcome 

Source Link: Visit source

Statistics
Citations :  World Health Organization. The Promotion and Development of Traditional Medicine: Report of a WHO Meeting (Technical Report Series no. 622). WHO, 1978.
Authors :  2
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1192/bji.2022.27
SSN : 2056-4740
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
History of psychiatry;Sudan;community mental health teams;primary care;traditional psychiatry
Study Design
Study Approach
Country of Study
Sudan
Publication Country
England