Traditional healers and cancer prevention.

M Steyn,A Muller

doi:10.4102/curationis.v23i3.675

Abstract

The increase in the incidence of cancer in South Africa necessitates the expansion of preventative efforts. This study shows that traditional healers in Atteridgeville are consulted by a range of people in their communities, have a basic knowledge of cancer, provide health education to their patients and are willing to participate in cancer preventative strategies. They are therefore ideally suited to augment the services of westernized health care workers. The issue of professionalization is explored and a procedure is suggested whereby the training of traditional healers can be enhanced so as to facilitate their professionalization and their collaboration with other health care workers in the prevention of cancer.

Highlights

Introduction and problem statementDespite prevention programmes, educa tional efforts and advances in the treat ment of the disease, cancer is on the in crease in South Africa
Traditional healers stated that they could treat any disease - some said any disease if the ancestors consented
There was no one term commonly used to refer to cancer, most of the traditional healers were aware of the basic facts about cancer, for example the general signs and symp toms, that cancer is curable when de tected early, that there are different types of cancer and that lifestyle factors con tribute to its development

Summary

Introduction

Introduction and problem statementDespite prevention programmes, educa tional efforts and advances in the treat ment of the disease, cancer is on the in crease in South Africa. Cancer of the cer vix, breast, oesophagus, lung, colon and bladder are among the m ajor public health problem s (Sitas et al, 1996). These and other cancers are largely pre ventable by following a healthy lifestyle (by avoiding, for example, risk factors such as smoking tobacco, a high fat and low fibre diet, sexual intercourse at an early age and multiple sexual partners). These cancers are curable if detected early. Hacking, Gudg eon and Lubelwana (1988: 59-61) found that Xhosa women with breast cancer, they did not necessarily delay seeking health care, sought health care from a traditional healer first

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Conclusion