Healers in a non-traditional role; a focus group study of Sangoma's knowledge of and attitudes to cervical cancer prevention and screening in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Twelve Sangomas or traditional healers participated in a focus group exploring their understanding of cervical cancer and human papilloma virus (HPV), their role informing women about cervical cancer prevention and screening; and their interaction/cooperation with western medicine. Participants lacked knowledge of HPV and the HPV vaccine but had an understanding of cervical cancer prevention and pap smears. Participants expressed interest in greater collaboration with western doctors, requested more prevention information, and noted the vaccine could serve as strategy to prevent HPV in victims of sexual violence, and time of vaccination could serve as an opportunity for parents to talk to their children about sex.
MPH Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA. jan20@case.edu
Jennifer A
JA
Nelson
Shelley A
SA
Francis
Joan
J
Liverpool
Soji
S
Soogun
Nokuthula
N
Mofammere
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D010290:Parents; D012736:Sex Education; D013019:South Africa; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears
D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines