Compatibility between Indigenous Healing and Biomedical Therapy for Mental Disorders in Zimbabwe

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue V, May 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

 The Compatibility between Indigenous Healing and Biomedical Therapy for Mental Disorders in Zimbabwe

Lazarus Kajawu, Dr Chiweshe, M., Prof Mapara, J

Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe

Abstract: -There is an increasing demand for collaboration between the Indigenous Healing Practitioners (IHPs) and the Biomedical Therapists (BTPs) to mitigate barriers in the delivery of mental health service in resource poor countries, including Zimbabwe. In Africa, many countries have resorted to different models of collaboration between IHPs and BTPs, but there is little or no studies on their compatibility in Zimbabwe. This study sought to examine the perceptions of health service providers and IHPs on the compatibility of IHPs and BTPs in the treatment of mental disorders in a settlement north-east of Harare using an exploratory qualitative methodology in order establish compatibility between IH and BT. Thirty key informant interviews with IHPs and one focus group discussion with nurses were conducted. Gathered data were coded using the Constant Comparison Method with multiple members of the research team, enhancing the validity and the reliability. The results of the study show that IHPs and BTPs were ready to collaborate, with potential benefits in the partnership. IHPs mainly treated common mental disorders, social problems and culturally specific problems perceived to have supernatural causality, which BTPs did not address and IHPs provided supportive and palliative care to BTPs’ patients who had chronic conditions. However, the study also found some IHPs’ practices with either health risks or were counterproductive to the partnership. For example, the IHPs ordered patients to stop taking BTPs’ medication and they changed the diagnosis which patients were given by BTPs. Although they viewed some IHPs had flaws in the delivery of mental health care, the participants suggested that the partnership would resolve the problems. The study found IHPs and BTPs compatible and therefore should redistribute the tasks in mental health treatment in Zimbabwe. The IHPs should be integrated with the BTPs in order to increase the coverage of mental health care in resource poor countries. Policies on collaboration of IHPs and BTPs must be drawn and published in national guidelines. This is expected to initiate a wider, holistic, therapy. More research is needed to establish how the two approaches may collaborate in Zimbabwe.

Key Terms:- Compatibility; indigenous healing; biomedical therapy; mental disorders; resource poor countries

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