title: Collaboration or renunciation? The role of traditional medicine in mental health care in Rwanda and Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
abstract: Traditional medicine (TM) and biomedicine represent parallel health systems in many developing countries; the latter dominating in public policies, while the former still retain considerable influence among the general public. This study investigates how mental health care professionals responsible for mental health care implementation comprehend and relate to the intersection between TM and biomedicine in the cases of Rwanda and the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The material is based on semi-structured interviews with mental health care stakeholders in Eastern Cape, South Africa and Rwanda. The findings confirm an impact of TM in the treatment of mental health issues in Rwanda and South Africa due to TM being more accessible than biomedical medicine, widespread traditional perceptions of mental illness in society, and the lack of knowledge of biomedical treatments. Furthermore, the respondents identified three strategies to manage the impact of TM; improved accessibility of biomedical facilities, outreach education about mental illness, and, in the Eastern Cape case, collaboration between traditional healers and biomedicine. The study points to the necessity to take TM into consideration as an important component of health systems and policies in the Global south.
authors.affiliation: a School of Global Studies , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.
authors.forename: Isabell
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schierenbeck
authors.affiliation: a School of Global Studies , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: b Department of Social Work , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.
authors.forename: Lena M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.affiliation: c Sahlgrenska Academy , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krantz
authors.affiliation: d Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health , University of Rwanda , Kigali , Rwanda.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ntaganira
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012432:Rwanda; D013019:South Africa
keywords: Rwanda; South Africa; global health systems; right to mental health; traditional medicine