Traditional health practitioners' training needs on biomedical knowledge and skills in a South African township.
biomedical health practitioners
biomedical system
knowledge and skills.
traditional health practitioner
training needs
Journal
African journal of primary health care & family medicine
ISSN: 2071-2936
Titre abrégé: Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med
Pays: South Africa
ID NLM: 101520860
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 Nov 2023
01 Nov 2023
Historique:
received:
12
12
2022
accepted:
14
06
2023
revised:
01
06
2023
medline:
3
11
2023
pubmed:
2
11
2023
entrez:
2
11
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Traditional health practitioners (THPs) play an important role in communities by providing necessary health services for a variety of health problems. Possessing complementary biomedical knowledge and skills is vital in saving lives of patients. However, less is known about biomedical knowledge and skills among THPs. This study aimed to explore and describe the training needs of THPs on biomedical knowledge and skills in urban townships in South Africa. The study was conducted in a township in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality of Gauteng province, South Africa. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive design with 18 THPs was employed through snowballing sampling. Data were collected through a lekgotla group discussion and thematic content analysis undertaken. Themes that emanated include knowledge of the basic physiological functioning of the human body; biomedical knowledge and skills required for the assessment of patients; managing emergency health conditions and understanding diagnostic concepts used in traditional health practice versus biomedical systems. Traditional health practitioners have demonstrated interest in being trained on certain skills used within the biomedical system to care for patients. Performing the necessary first-aid skills by THPs will assist patients in the communities while waiting for emergency services or referrals. Provision of training programmes for THPs on first aid interventions during emergencies is therefore recommended.Contribution: The study revealed that capacitating THPs with biomedical knowledge and skills can improve their ability to promote healthy living and prevent health problems in communities where access to resources is limited.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Traditional health practitioners (THPs) play an important role in communities by providing necessary health services for a variety of health problems. Possessing complementary biomedical knowledge and skills is vital in saving lives of patients. However, less is known about biomedical knowledge and skills among THPs.
AIM
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to explore and describe the training needs of THPs on biomedical knowledge and skills in urban townships in South Africa.
SETTING
METHODS
The study was conducted in a township in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality of Gauteng province, South Africa.
METHODS
METHODS
A qualitative, explorative, descriptive design with 18 THPs was employed through snowballing sampling. Data were collected through a lekgotla group discussion and thematic content analysis undertaken.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Themes that emanated include knowledge of the basic physiological functioning of the human body; biomedical knowledge and skills required for the assessment of patients; managing emergency health conditions and understanding diagnostic concepts used in traditional health practice versus biomedical systems.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Traditional health practitioners have demonstrated interest in being trained on certain skills used within the biomedical system to care for patients. Performing the necessary first-aid skills by THPs will assist patients in the communities while waiting for emergency services or referrals. Provision of training programmes for THPs on first aid interventions during emergencies is therefore recommended.Contribution: The study revealed that capacitating THPs with biomedical knowledge and skills can improve their ability to promote healthy living and prevent health problems in communities where access to resources is limited.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37916725
doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v15i1.3923
pmc: PMC10696894
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
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