Tswana traditional health practitioners' perspectives on the management of diabetes and hypertension: a qualitative study using focus group discussions.

Manimbulu Nlooto,Ebenezer Frimpong

doi:10.11604/pamj.2019.34.93.19112

Abstract

IntroductionThe literature suggests the involvement of Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) perspectives in treating diabetes and hypertension in Africa. This study sought the perspectives of Tswana THPs in the management of both diabetes and hypertension.MethodsUsing a semi-structured interview guide, four Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) sessions were held with 40 THPs; FGD1 (12) FGD2 (6); FGD3 (13) and FGD4 (9) who were purposely selected from Bojanala and Dr. Ruth Sekgopomati Districts in the North-West Province of South Africa.ResultsTswana THPs perceived diabetes as a “sugar” disease and described hypertension as a disease associated with the abnormal flow of blood in a patient's body. In addition, some of the signs and symptoms of both diabetes and hypertension mentioned by Tswana THPs agreed with scientific literature. Tswana THPs employed the use of the following plants: borago officinalis, ziziphus mucronata, hypoxis hemerocallidea, sutherlandia frutescens, senna italica, urginea sanguinea and eucalyptus globulus in the management of diabetes and hypertension.ConclusionSome of the medicinal plants employed by THPs in the management of both diabetes and hypertension has been proven scientifically to be effective against these chronic conditions.

Highlights

In most African communities where access to hospitals and clinics remains a challenge, patronage of Traditional Medicine (TM) with the help of Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) offer people the opportunity to manage certain diseases affecting their wellbeing and health in general [1]
Most of the THPs in this study believed that diabetes is a sugar disease and referred hypertension as a disease associated with the abnormal flow of blood in a patient’s body
Some of the signs and symptoms associated with these two diseases mentioned by Tswana THPs agreed with scientific literature

Summary

Introduction

In most African communities where access to hospitals and clinics remains a challenge, patronage of Traditional Medicine (TM) with the help of Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) offer people the opportunity to manage certain diseases affecting their wellbeing and health in general [1]. WHO defines Traditional Health Practitioner(THP) as, “a person who is recognised by the community where he or she lives as someone competent to provide health care by using plant, animal, mineral substances and other methods based on social, cultural and religious practices” [3]. The role played by THPs in the treatment and management of these two diseases (diabetes and hypertension) across the African continent has been documented [5, 6]. The specific objectives were: to determine Tswana THPs cultural understanding of both diabetes and hypertension; to determine the Tswana THPs description of clinical features for both diabetes and hypertension; to determine ethnopharmacological and treatment modalities employed by Tswana THPs in the management of both diabetes and hypertension

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion