Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo City, Mozambique.
SAHARA J. 2021 Dec;18(1):77-85. doi: 10.1080/17290376.2021.1909492.
Traditional healers are commonly utilised throughout sub-Saharan Africa instead of - and in concert with - biomedical facilities. Traditional healers are trusted providers and prominent community members and could be important partners in improving engagement with HIV services in endemic contexts. Our study sought to understand the roles of healers in the urban setting of Maputo, Mozambique, where HIV prevalence is high and testing rates are low. Qualitative data were gathered through minimally structured interviews with 36 healers. Analysis followed an inductive, grounded theory approach. Data reveal three themes relevant to improving engagement with HIV services in this endemic region: (1) healers have positive attitudes towards biomedicine; (2) healers advocate for their sick clients and (3) clients are reticent to present to biomedical facilities. Healers describe their roles as 'cooperative' with biomedical providers to provide healthcare for their clients. Results suggest that healers could be considered to effective HIV programmes in communities. They have social and symbolic capital that positions them to beneficially influence clients and are natural partners for interventions to improve uptake of HIV services.
传统治疗师在撒哈拉以南非洲地区被广泛使用，他们可以替代生物医学设施，也可以与生物医学设施共同为患者提供治疗。传统治疗师是值得信赖的医疗服务提供者，也是社区中重要的成员，他们可以成为改善艾滋病服务参与度的重要伙伴。我们的研究旨在了解莫桑比克马普托市（HIV 流行率高、检测率低的城市）的传统治疗师在城市环境中的作用。我们通过对 36 名治疗师进行非结构化访谈，收集了定性数据。分析采用了归纳式扎根理论方法。数据揭示了三个与提高艾滋病服务参与度相关的主题：（1）治疗师对生物医学持积极态度；（2）治疗师为其患者代言；（3）患者不愿前往生物医学机构就诊。治疗师将他们的角色描述为与生物医学提供者“合作”，为其患者提供医疗服务。研究结果表明，在社区中，治疗师可以被视为有效的 HIV 项目的一部分。他们拥有社会和象征资本，使他们能够对患者产生有益的影响，并且是改善 HIV 服务利用率干预措施的天然合作伙伴。
