Attitudes Of Community Members Research Articles

Social domains of poor mental health: A qualitative pilot study of community stakeholders' understanding and demarcation of mental illness and its interpretations in rural Nigeria.

Although previous studies on mental health/illness in Nigeria have explored knowledge and attitude of community members using quantitative approaches, few studies have engaged stakeholders within rural communities on the issue of mental illness using qualitative approaches. Community stakeholders play a critical role in influencing health behaviors. The objective of this pilot study was to explore community stakeholders' understanding and demarcation of mental illness, and its interpretations in a rural Nigerian town. This is with the aim of shaping stakeholders understanding of people when they experience mental distress within the community. The study was conducted in Ijebu-Igbo town of Ogun State in south-west Nigeria. In-depth interviews were conducted among two religious' leaders: a Pastor and an Imam, a traditional healer, a medical doctor, and a registered nurse, and a focus group discussion was held in a church with members of its advisory committee. The findings showed that community stakeholders gave multiple interpretations of mental illness and many attribute mental illness to spiritual attack, ancestral curse, anger of the gods, and personal affliction (Ogun-Afowofa). This has been categorized as familial and individual attributes in this study which is part of the main themes derived. The study findings also show that the understanding of community members regarding the root causes of mental illness is somewhat vague based on their poor knowledge of mental illness. This is because of the various interpretations they gave to explain mental health is based on their cultural orientation, socialization, and belief system, and not based on any medical knowledge. This pilot study was conducted to justify the main study. There is therefore a need for health education interventions to enlighten and educate community stakeholders with requisite knowledge for better understanding and interpretation of mental illness. Also, through mental health education interventions, community members will gain clarity on what mental health is and what it is not.

Drug Deactivation Pouches for Primary Prevention of Opioid Overdose: Perceptions and Attitudes of Community Members.

A substantial number of opioid analgesics dispensed into communities will go unused and be susceptible to diversion for misuse. Convenient, efficient, and environmentally safe mechanisms for disposal are needed to prevent the diversion of unused opioid analgesics. This initiative piloted the feasibility of distributing drug deactivation pouches in a community setting and examined community members' acceptance, intention to use drug deactivation pouches, and their current disposal practices of unused opioid analgesics. Although many studies have examined the benefits of deactivation pouches in preventing drug overdose, few have explored community members' perspectives, the feasibility, and the acceptability of these pouches in disposing of unused medications. In the fall of 2017, we piloted the distribution of drug deactivation pouches to assess the overall interest in the pouches at a 3-day community event and continued the second wave of this pilot in the community from the summer of 2018 to the spring of 2019.Our main outcomes and measures included the acceptance of the drug deactivation pouches and the intention to use the pouches. "Acceptance" was defined as study participants physically taking the kit and "Intention" was how participants intended to use the pouch. A total of 170 community members were approached at a community event about the drug deactivation pouches and 116 accepted at least 1 pouch (68.2% acceptance rate). In the second wave, 124 community members were approached by Community Health Workers; 100% accepted the pouch. Overall, the acceptance rate was 81.6%. People mentioned significant interest in using the pouches. Furthermore, surveys that assessed community members' intention to use the deactivation pouches showed that 48% intended to use the pouch. The distribution of drug deactivation pouches is feasible in a community setting and although community members expressed interest in using drug deactivation pouches to dispose of unused opioid analgesics and other drugs, the majority still disposed of their unused medications through other avenues. This, underscore the need to raise community members' awareness about the importance, benefits, and viability of these pouches as a tool for the primary prevention of opioid overdose because of their ease of use, safety, environmental considerations, and cost-effectiveness.

Strategies for addressing needle debris: A scoping review of needle debris and discarded drug paraphernalia associated with substance use.

Needle debris and discarded drug paraphernalia can pose risks to people who use drugs (PWUD) and other members of the community. The research question guiding our scoping review was, "What is the scope of literature around discussions of and interventions for needle debris associated with drug use in a community setting"? The review was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Reporting was in accordance with the PRISMA scoping review extension. Searches in August of 2022 on Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and Social Services Abstracts were completed. Quantitative and qualitative study designs were included. Grey literature was excluded. Extracted data included disposal initiatives and factors influencing disposal practices. The databases combined search total was 3074. A total of 1115 duplicates were removed. Inclusion and exclusion criteria resulted in 72 studies full-text studies reviewed. Nineteen articles met all requirements. Studies from multiple continents resulted in similar themes. Two main themes were identified: needle disposal challenges for PWUD and disposal initiatives. Disposal challenges related to legal barriers and law enforcement influence, the varying definitions of 'safe disposal' and perspectives of PWUD. Disposal initiatives stemmed from community-based initiatives, pharmacy contributions and the perceptions and attitudes of community members. Needle debris is a complex phenomenon highly impacted by the threat of persecution from law enforcement. PWUD need various disposal methods in proximity to their injecting location to avoid fear of prosecution from residual substances on the syringes.

Credulous on accountability at LaaRiba community: A tasawuf critical reflection

Research aims: Accountability is a form and mechanism of responsibility that applies to all activities at the level of individuals, organizations and the social world. This study aims, first, to explore the meanings and values that underlie the collective awareness of members and administrators of the LaaRibaa Community in actualizing accountability in financial reporting; second, providing a critical reflection on the awareness and practices of accountability within the LaaRibaa community.Design/Methodology/Approach: This study applies Milles and Huberman's qualitative approach, modified with critical reflection through tasawuf concepts by Haji Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah (HAMKA). Data were collected through interviews with committees and members as well as observations on the documents. Data analysis includes the following steps: (1) data reduction, (2) data presentation, and (3) verification using the HAMKA’s tasawuf concept as an analytical tool.Research findings: The results show that the LaaRiba community's financial accountability model is influenced by many values. Al-Qur'an and hadith as fundamental values; trustworthiness and sincerity as substantial values; and please Allah (ﷻ) as the ultimate goal of managers and community members. However, this principle of trustworthiness and sincerity is practiced credulously, both from their position as public auditors and from the perspective of HAMKA's tasawuf concepts which are ihlas (sincerity) and amanah (trustworthy) (Islamic accountability).Theoretical contribution/Originity: This study found an inconsistency in the attitudes of community members or managers, on their daily occupation of being public auditors, they were very strict on the principles of accountability, but not accordingly when they act as community members or managers. This result strengthens previous findings which show a weak commitment to accountability in Islamic social institutions.Practitioner/Policy implication: To the managers of the LaaRiba community, there are three aspects that need to be fixed immediately. First, the legality of the community, so that there is legal certainty. Second, the position of the waqf contract needs to be reviewed so that it does not violate its purpose. Third, the accountability of financial reports needs to be improved in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Islamic social institutions

Developing a framework to describe stigma related to cervical cancer and HPV in western Kenya

BackgroundDespite a high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer in low and middle-income countries, stigma remains an issue. Addressing HPV and cervical cancer stigma could significantly improve health outcomes for these conditions. The objective of this study was to identify the manifestations of stigma and their potential impacts on health-seeking behavior.MethodsTwenty-six in-depth interviews were conducted with women living with HIV, HIV-negative women, community health volunteers, and health care providers in Kisumu, Kenya in 2019. The interviews were designed to draw out existing attitudes or experiences related to stigma within the community. We conducted a thematic analysis of the interviews to identify internalized, anticipated, and discriminatory attitudes.ResultsWithin internalized attitudes, a prominent observed theme was a fear of death associated with a positive HPV test. This stemmed from a lack of understanding of differences between HPV and cervical cancer and posed a significant barrier for women deciding to seek screening or to continue with treatment. Discriminatory attitudes of community members, including assumptions of promiscuity, infidelity, or HIV status, were perceived to prevent women from accessing screening and treatment opportunities. The interviews also exhibited a limited awareness of HPV in this region, which may have contributed to a lack of enacted stigma towards people living with HPV or cervical cancer.ConclusionStigma has the potential to lead to decreased screening and treatment uptake through its drivers. This includes a decreased perception of personal risk due to a lack of knowledge, which results in increased HPV-risk behaviors. Future research must focus on creating and integrating stigma-reducing interventions, primarily to encourage women to seek out primary and secondary preventative measures.

Konsep dan Sumber Hukum: Analisis Perbandingan Sistem Hukum Islam dan Sistem Hukum Positif

The definition of positive law was law in the form of laws that regulate the relationship between humans and humans, or with legal entities, while the understanding of Islamic law was a system of 'obligations' and 'prohibitions' rather than specific laws. Islamic law was broadly defined by rules which were the result of understanding and deduction from the provisions revealed by Allah SWT to the Prophet Muhammad SAW. Therefore, the main sources of Islamic law were the Qur'an and Hadith. source of pure positive law from society. This was due to the retrieval or discovery of positive law using the inductive method. That was by observing the actions and attitudes of community members. From these observations, general regulations that bind the whole community were made. In this article, the author tried to explain further the analysis of the concepts and sources of the two laws, and their comparative analysis

When COVID-19 enters in a community setting: an exploratory qualitative study of community perspectives on COVID-19 affecting mental well-being

ObjectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased level of anxiety and fear among the general population related to its management and infection spread. Considering the relevance of present circumstances,...

Knowledge and attitude of community members and health care workers on Lassa fever during an outbreak in Kogi State, Nigeria 2016

Knowledge and attitude of community members and health care workers on Lassa fever during an outbreak in Kogi State, Nigeria 2016

Program Pencegahan Penularan COVID-19 pada Komunitas Ibu Rumah Tangga dengan HIV di Surabaya

Everyone was affected by COVID-19 pandemic, including housewives with HIV joined in Bu'Daya community. In management of COVID-19, patient's comorbid history was important because these patients could aggravate the condition of COVID-19. HIV was a chronic disease related to the immune system. Therefore, it was important for people with HIV to prevent infection of COVID-19. The problem faced by this community regarding COVID-19 was knowledge and attitudes of community members was not known yet. Therefore, efforts were needed to find out and improve understanding of COVID-19. The solution offered to this community was training and assistance regarding the prevention of COVID-19 through the "We Are Empowered, We Prevent Covid-19 Transmission" Program. This program was part of a series of “We Are Empowered” programs, a service program of the Empower Woman with HIV, in Surabaya. The aim of this program was to increase knowledge and attitudes of the participants towards preventing the transmission of COVID-19. The implementation method was by community education, training and community assistance. The results obtained from this community service were the increased knowledge and attitudes of the participants regarding the behavior of preventing the transmission of COVID-19 which could be seen from the pre and post-test results. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26905/abdimas.v5i3.4844

Consumerism and communitarianism: current issues of determinism and interaction within the territorial community

The article examines current issues of determinism and interaction of the phenomena of consumerism and communitarianismwithin the territorial community.It is proved that a territorial human community is a territorial community that functions within local self-government due to itsexistence in the relevant territory of the state, acts as a natural and optimal social space not only for the existence of a particular personand his associations, but also for organizing product consumption. produced as a result of local economic activity or finds itself in theterritorial community as a result of exchange, and acts as a source of existence of such a community – hence the issue of consumerismis natural and relevant to the existence of the territorial community and local government.Territorial human community, based on the organization and existence of which is the awareness of its identifying unity on thegeneral principles of history, geography, culture, language, religion, etc. – is an ideal subject of embodiment and action of communitarianism,advocating the evolutionary development of society through it reforming on the basis of a market economy with the activeparticipation of business structures. This transforms the territorial community into a powerful subject-object of influence and realizationof ideological factors of free economic activity and consumption, and the space of local self-government – into the space of manifestationof existential intentions, needs, interests, attitudes of community members and their realization in conditions market economyand the formation of a culture of consumption – as a result of which consumerism acts as an important qualitative identifying featureof a successful territorial community and a person of dimensional local self-government.It is argued that the ideology of consumerism is genetically interrelated with community theory, because they both have a singlesubject-object of their influence – territorial community. Moreover, they directly affect the strategic development of such a communityby building a management paradigm that focuses not so much on the orientation of production and human activity on existential consumption(this task is historically transient), but on the formation and change of human habit returning from consumption to creativeactivity.

Communal land and the attitudes of the Bafokeng on benefits from mineral rights

ABSTRACTThis study examines the benefits received by the Royal Bafokeng Nation of northwestern South Africa from mining on their traditional lands, and the attitudes of community members towards those benefits. Key to this discussion is the role of communal land ownership. The author surveyed 493 members of this community to determine if they were satisfied with services provided by the Royal Bafokeng Administration (RBA). The research found that, in a context of severe inequality, widespread unemployment, negative impacts from nearby mines and migrant labour, centralisation of benefits to Phokeng, and perceptions of mismanagement and corruption, there was widespread dissatisfaction among the Bafokeng. Addressing these issues, especially the lack of jobs, could mitigate current negative perceptions about services delivered by the RBA.

Involvement of people with dementia in raising awareness and changing attitudes in a dementia friendly community pilot project.

Low levels of public understanding can contribute to the fear, stigma and social exclusion associated with living with dementia. Dementia friendly communities aim to address this by empowering people with dementia and increasing their social inclusion. As a part of a Community Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) process, a multicomponent dementia friendly community intervention supported: research; the establishment of a Dementia Advisory Group and Alliance; an awareness campaign and education in community organisations. Educational events were co-designed and co-facilitated by people with dementia and their care partners. To assess project reach and changes in attitudes of community members, two cross sectional surveys were conducted with adults (aged over 18 years) using validated scales. Independent samples t-tests compared responses to the surveys prior to the commencement of the project (2014) and two years later (2016). In 2016, respondents showed increased agreement with the statements: ‘People with dementia participate in a wide variety of activities and interests,’ and, ‘It is easy to find out about dementia friendly services or organisations in Kiama’. Respondents who attended an educational event reported less negative views about how they themselves would feel if they were diagnosed with dementia compared with respondents who did not attend an event. CBPAR appears useful to support the involvement of people with dementia and the engagement of the community to improve awareness of dementia services. The direct involvement of people living with dementia as spokespeople and educators was an effective way to improve positive attitudes and reduce the negative stereotypes associated with living with dementia. Further research is needed to compare different approaches to the creation of dementia friendly communities in different locations, and to establish the extent to which local interventions are useful to complement efforts to raise awareness of dementia at a national level.

Perceptions and experiences of childhood vaccination communication strategies among caregivers and health workers in Nigeria: A qualitative study.

BackgroundEffective vaccination communication with parents is critical in efforts to overcome barriers to childhood vaccination, tackle vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccination coverage. Health workers should be able to provide information to parents and other caregivers and support them in reaching decisions about vaccinating their children. Limited information exists regarding the perceptions of caregivers and health workers on the vaccination communication strategies employed in Nigeria. This study, which forms part of the ‘Communicate to vaccinate’ (COMMVAC) project, aims to explore the perceptions and experiences of caregivers and health workers in Nigeria on vaccination communication strategies implemented in their settings.MethodologyWe conducted the study in two States: Bauchi in Northern Nigeria and Cross River in the south. We carried out observations (n = 40), in-depth interviews (n = 14) and focus group discussions (FGDs) (n = 12) amongst 14 purposively selected health workers, two community leaders and 84 caregivers in the two states. We transcribed data verbatim and analysed the data using a framework analysis approach.ResultsCaregivers were informed about vaccination activities through three main sources: health facilities (during health education sessions conducted at antenatal or immunization clinics); media outlets; and announcements (in churches/mosques, communities and markets). Caregivers reported that the information received was very useful. Their preferred sources of information included phone text messages, town announcers, media and church/mosque announcements. Some caregivers perceived the clinic environment, long waiting times and health worker attitudes as barriers to receiving vaccination information.When delivering communication interventions, health workers described issues tied to poor communication skills; poor motivation; and attitudes of community members, including vaccine resistance.ConclusionCommunication about vaccination involves more than the message but is also influenced by the environment and the attitudes of the deliverer and receiver. It is pertinent for health policy makers and programme managers to understand these factors so as to effectively implement communication approaches.

Analisis Niat Perilaku Anggota Komunitas Hijabers Surabaya Dalam Menggunakan Tabungan Syariah: Perspektif Theory Of Planned Behavior

A large number of muslim population in Indonesia have an impact on the development of muslim fashion in Indonesia and led to the emergence of muslim communities such as Hijabers Surabaya community. Hijabers Surabaya community also linked himself with sharia, such as cooperation with the islamic banking in which all community members will get free sharia account when joining the community.This research focuses on the behavior and attitude of community members towards the use of sharia account by using the theory of planned behavior perspective. This study used Structural Equation Model. Total participants in this study amounted to 150 members. The results obtained in this study is: (1) Behavior belief affect the attitude toward behavior. (2) Normative belief not effect the subjective norm. (3) Motivation to comply not effect the subjective norm. (4) Control belief affect the perceived behavioral control. (5) Attitude toward behavior affect the intention to use. (6) Subjective norm not affect the intention to use. (7) Perceived behavioral control not affect to the intention to use.

Community Willingness to Participate in a Dengue Study in Aceh Province, Indonesia.

BackgroundDengue virus infection is the most rapidly spreading vector-borne disease in the world. Essential research on dengue virus transmission and its prevention requires community participation. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the factors that are associated with the willingness of communities in high prevalence areas to participate in dengue research. The aim of this study was to explore factors associated with the willingness of healthy community members in Aceh province, Indonesia, to participate in dengue research that would require phlebotomy.Methodology/Principal FindingsA community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in nine regencies and municipalities of Aceh from November 2014 to March 2015. Interviews using a set of validated questionnaires were conducted to collect data on demography, history of dengue infection, socioeconomic status, and knowledge, attitude and practice regarding dengue fever. Two-step logistic regression and Spearman’s rank correlation (rs) analysis were used to assess the influence of independent variables on dependent variables. Among 535 participants, less than 20% had a good willingness to participate in the dengue study. The factors associated with good willingness to participate were being female, working as a civil servant, private employee or entrepreneur, having a high socioeconomic status and good knowledge, attitude and practice regarding dengue. Good knowledge and attitude regarding dengue were positive independent predictors of willingness to participate (OR: 2.30 [95% CI: 1.36–3.90] and 3.73 [95% CI: 2.24–6.21], respectively).Conclusion/SignificanceThe willingness to participate in dengue research is very low among community members in Aceh, and the two most important associated factors are knowledge and attitude regarding dengue. To increase participation rate, efforts to improve the knowledge and attitude of community members regarding dengue fever and dengue-related research is required before such studies are launched.

Virtuous Avengers in Commonplace Cases

Despite the bad press that revenge has received from moral philosophers and legal theorists, it can be a legitimate way to forge a link between wrongful behavior and penalties that karmic moral theories can only postulate. It can be especially effectual in commonplace cases that are under the radar of formal systems of justice. In such cases it can play a positive role in strengthening the moral foundations of a community. In those cases acts of revenge can provide a morally valuable antidote to the negative participant reactive attitudes of community members. They can be an expression of morality in and for itself while exorcizing such pent up emotions as resentment, hatred, indignation, anger, antipathy, annoyance, umbrage, and ire. I maintain that responding in morally appropriate ways to insults, derisions, disparagements, and other forms of perceived wrongful disrespect and ill will is elemental in sustaining equitable human relations. To reiterate and paraphrase a point Robert Nozick made, the only power that morality has to affect human affairs resides in the critical responses moral people feel obliged to make upon recognizing the wrongful quality of another person’s acts or will. In this paper I apply the four criteria I defended in the book The Virtues of Vengeance to rather mundane cases of perceived maltreatment, exploitation, oppression, and/or neglect, and I deal with the issue of regulating multiple avengers who are bent on dealing out revenge to offenders in such commonplace cases.

Prevalence and Determinants of Unintended Pregnancy Among Women in South-Western Nigeria.

To study the prevalence of unwanted pregnancy in urban and rural settlements in Southwestern Nigeria. A prospective cross-sectional study of women within reproductive age. Community-based study of unwanted pregnancy was conducted in 2012. They were women of reproductive age who had experienced unintended and/or unwanted pregnancies and they were randomly selected from rural and urban areas of Ogun state in Nigeria. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The prevalence of unintended/unwanted pregnancy, associated factors including the views, perception and attitudes of community members in both urban and rural settlements and the pattern of help-seeking behavior on the problem. The age range of respondents was 15-48 years (mean age 31.2± 6.7 years). One thousand, two hundred and twenty-one (51.6%) of the respondents were married. The percentage of illiterate respondents was 3.5% in urban area and 4.1% in rural area. There was a statistically significant association between level of education and use of a method to avoid or delay pregnancy (p < 0.001). The prevalence of unintended pregnancy was 35.9% while that of induced abortion was 33.5%. Quality of service was the most important factor in the choice of a place for pregnancy termination in urban and rural areas. Economic reasons were often cited as reasons women make use of abortion services. Unwanted pregnancy constitutes a problem, even at the community level. The high contraceptive awareness should be translated to an increased use so as to bridge the large gap of unmet need.

Addressing Stigma and Discrimination Towards Mental Illness: A Community Based Intervention Programme from India

Persons with mental illness experience discrimination due to the stigmatizing attitudes of the society. Desired social distance was greater for the person depicted in the psychosis, and the main predictor of greater social distance was perceiving the person as dangerous. In India men with schizophrenia reported being unmarried, hid their illness in job applications and from others, and experienced ridicule and shame. They reported that their experience of stigma was most acute at their places of employment. Women reported experiences of stigma in relation to marriage, pregnancy, and childbirth. The current paper narrates a step model community-based intervention programme that was attempted to reduce stigma prevailed in the community towards persons affected with mental illness and their family. Four members affected with mental illness from a family were reported to the psychiatric hospital with the help of a voluntary organization. Four of them were suffering from chronic schizophrenia and malnutrition. Psychiatric social work team made use of Home Visit, Family Burden Schedule and Stigma Questionnaire to assess the family condition. The assessments revealed that the family was facing serious discrimination in the village; neighbours were not coming home, children threw stones to the home and people considered the family was under the attack of evil spirits. All the family members were deprived of their basic needs like food, water and social living. Other than giving hospital-based treatment for the family members affected with mental illness, availing disability benefits, and rehabilitating the persons, the psychiatric social work team organized one day community-based intervention programme targeting knowledge and attitude of community members towards mental illness. The key elements of community-based intervention were home visits, one to one interaction, collaborative work with local governing bodies, street play, experience sharing by a person affected with mental illness, display and distribution of IEC material, interactive sessions and oath taking. The community-based intervention could bring changes in the stigma, reduced discrimination and increased social acceptance and social support of the family members.

Parenteral medication prescriptions, dispensing and administration habits in Mongolia.

High levels of injection prescribing were reported in Mongolia. Understanding the factors influencing the injection prescribing is essential to reduce their inappropriate use. The study evaluated the views, experiences and attitudes of community members associated with the prescribing of injections in Mongolia. A structured questionnaire focusing on respondents' characteristics, experiences and views about injections was developed and administered face-to-face to community members in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Standard descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic data and responses to the questionnaires. Dependant variables were compared using Kruskal-Wallis Tests for independence. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Version 21.0. Six hundred participants were approached and the response rate was 79% (n = 474). Almost half of the respondents were aged between 31 and 50 (n = 228, 48.1%) and 40.9% of respondents were male (n = 194). Most respondents were from Ulaanbaatar city (n = 407, 85.7%). All respondents had received injections in the past and 268 (56.5%) had received injection in the past year. The most common reason for having an injection in the past year was reported as treatment of a disease (n = 163, 60.8%), or for administration of vitamins (n = 70, 26.1%). Injections were prescribed by a doctor (n = 353, 74.9%), dispensed by a pharmacist (n = 283, 59.7%) and administered by a nurse (n = 277, 54.9%). Only 16% of all respondents had the expectation of receiving injections when they visited a doctor (n = 77). An important perception regarding injections was that they hastened the recovery process (n = 269, 56.8%). When asked their opinion about therapeutic injections, 40% of all respondents agreed that injections were a better medicine (n = 190) than oral medications, with older respondents strongly agreeing (p<0.001). Based on this total sample, approximately 1891 injections per 1000 patients were administered. The excessive injection use seems to be promoted by inappropriate prescribing, dispensing and administration of medication by doctors and others.

Perceptions of safety and efficacy of traditional medicines by community members in Botswana

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the perceptions and attitudes of community members towards traditional medicines, including their safety, authenticity and efficacy. Methodology: A participatory exploratory study design was chosen, combined with a multiple approach to data collection and analysis using consultative and report-back workshops, individual interviews and focus-group discussions. Findings: Eighty-four per cent of the community members felt that traditional medicines are safe, especially if prescribed instructions are followed. Some of the interviewees felt that traditional healers were better equipped to treat certain diseases whilst biomedical doctors were more efficient in others, hence complementary. The efficacy of traditional medicines was undoubted; however, the authenticity of some traditional healers was questioned.