Investigating the practices in the management of anxiety disorders by Zulu traditional healers
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Date
2017
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University of Zululand
Abstract
The aim and objectives of the study were to investigate the management of anxiety disorders by Zulu traditional healers. Here the term management refers not exclusively to treatment but rather encompasses conceptualisation and causes of anxiety, symptom presentation and diagnostic procedures, treatment methods, and referral of patients with anxiety. The study was conducted at KwaDlangezwa and Esikhawini areas in Zululand, South Africa. A qualitative approach was adopted for the study. A snowball sampling technique was used to collect the sample. The inclusion criterion was diviners who are currently in practice. The sample comprised of 14 diviners. Semi-structured interviews were used in the collection of data. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data was analysed and interpreted using thematic content analysis.
Within the study the concept of anxiety was understood in relation to the causes. Anxiety was discussed under the headings of functional and pathological anxiety. The diviners diagnose and treat exclusively pathological anxiety. Pathological anxiety was said to be caused by either witchcraft or ancestral calling. In the category of pathological anxiety three types of anxiety were described, and they were inyoni (affecting mostly children), uvalo lwezilwane (anxiety through bewitchment and uvalo lwedlozi (related to ancestral calling). The diviners indicated that anxiety is not a mental disorder but rather a physical illness. Although the treatment methods varied amongst the diviners, they were all indicated to be effective. If a patient was not responsive to treatment, the patient would be referred to other healers first and then a referral to clinics or/ and hospitals would be made. However, if there was an underlying medical condition, patients would be referred immediately to clinics and/or hospitals.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology) in the Department of Psychology at the University of Zululand, 2017
Keywords
anxiety disorders --traditional treatments --South Africa