Department of Global Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe.
Department of Laboratory Diagnostic and Investigative Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe.
Afr J Reprod Health. 2024 Feb 28;28(1):110-122. doi: 10.29063/ajrh2024/v28i1.11.
Female infertility is a health and social problem that traditional health practitioners (THPs) have been managing in African communities. This study explored the experiences of THPs in the management of female infertility, specifically focusing on their understanding, diagnosis, and treatment methods for female infertility. This was a qualitative study targeting six THPs in Harare urban areas registered with the Traditional Medical Practitioners Council (TMPC) in Zimbabwe. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines were followed in the description of the study design, analysis and presentation of findings. The findings revealed that the etiology of female infertility was attributed to biomedical, lifestyle, spiritual, and male factors. Management of infertility depended on the type of THP. Spirit mediums relied on divination and dreams to diagnose and treat female infertility. Herbalists focused on the physical evidence provided by the client through history taking. THPs had a client referral system within their TMPC network. All THPs ultimately used medicinal plants for treating female infertility. THPs play an important role in the management of female infertility. Understanding their contributions to the management of female infertility provides an opportunity to obtain insight into their practices, thus identifying areas that responsible Ministries can use to strengthen traditional health care systems and ultimately improve reproductive health care for women in African communities.
女性不孕是传统医疗从业者（THP）一直在非洲社区管理的健康和社会问题。本研究探讨了 THP 管理女性不孕的经验，特别是他们对女性不孕的理解、诊断和治疗方法。这是一项针对津巴布韦传统医学从业者理事会（TMPC）注册的哈拉雷市区六名 THP 的定性研究。在描述研究设计、分析和呈现研究结果时，遵循了定性研究报告的统一标准（COREQ）指南。研究结果表明，女性不孕的病因归因于生物医学、生活方式、精神和男性因素。不孕的管理取决于 THP 的类型。灵媒依靠占卜和梦境来诊断和治疗女性不孕。草药医生专注于通过问诊为客户提供的身体证据。THP 在他们的 TMPC 网络中有客户转介系统。所有 THP 最终都使用药用植物治疗女性不孕。THP 在女性不孕的管理中发挥着重要作用。了解他们对女性不孕管理的贡献为了解他们的实践提供了机会，从而确定负责任的部委可以利用的领域，以加强传统医疗保健系统，并最终改善非洲社区妇女的生殖保健。
