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The use of indigenous knowledge in primary health care: A case study of Makanye community in Limpopo Province, South Africa

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S A Rankoana¹
S A Rankoana¹
S A Rankoana¹
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Kathryn Anne Nel at University of Limpopo
Kathryn Anne Nel
Kholofelo Annah Rakubu at Tshwane University of Technology
Kholofelo Annah Rakubu
Tebogo Maria Mothiba at University of Limpopo
Tebogo Maria Mothiba
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Abstract

The use of indigenous knowledge to meet primary health care needs goes back to 1978 when the World Health Assembly announced the potential use of traditional medicine and urged member states to use traditional medical practices in primary health care. The present study examined the use of indigenous knowledge for preventive, curative and protective health care. Data were collected through interactions with a sample of 100 participants. The study results provide explanations of disease, disease etiology, health implications of food and medical ethnobotanical knowledge as the indigenous knowledge systems used to maintain good health. These knowledge systems provide protective, preventive and curative care. The study recommends scientific research to explore the role of indigenous knowledge in health care among South African cultural groups in order to validate the knowledge and use it to achieve Sustainable Development Goals to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all people.
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African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance
(AJPHERD) October 2015 (Supplement 1:2), pp. 272-278.
The use of indigenous knowledge in primary health care: A case
study of Makanye community in Limpopo Province, South
Africa
S.A. RANKOANA¹, K. NEL2, K. MOTHIBI3, T.M. MOTHIBA4, P.
MAMOGOBO5 AND M. SETWABA6
Departments of Sociology & Anthropology1, Psychology2,6, Criminology & Criminal Justice3,
Department of Nursing Science4,5, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727;
South Africa.
E-mail: sejabaledi.rankoana@ul.ac.za
Abstract
The use of indigenous knowledge to meet primary health care needs goes back to 1978 when the
World Health Assembly announced the potential use of traditional medicine and urged member
states to use traditional medical practices in primary health care. The present study examined the
use of indigenous knowledge for preventive, curative and protective health care. Data were
collected through interactions with a sample of 100 participants. The study results provide
explanations of disease, disease etiology, health implications of food and medical ethnobotanical
knowledge as the indigenous knowledge systems used to maintain good health. These knowledge
systems provide protective, preventive and curative care. The study recommends scientific
research to explore the role of indigenous knowledge in health care among South African cultural
groups in order to validate the knowledge and use it to achieve Sustainable Development Goals
to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all people.
Keywords: Indigenous knowledge, primary health care, traditional medicine, rural community,
sustainable development goals.
How to cite this article:
Rankoana, S.A., Nel, K., Mothibi, K. Mothiba, T.M., Mamogobo, P. & Setwaba, M. (2015). The
use of indigenous knowledge in primary health care: A case study of Makanye community in
Limpopo Province, South Africa. African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation
and Dance, Supplement 1:2 (October), 272-278.
Introduction
The use of indigenous knowledge and practices in health care were first
recognised by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in 1978 when it urged the
member states to utilise traditional medical practices in primary health care.
Indigenous knowledge is recently regarded as an important commodity in global
health development (Lama, 2000). The World Health Organisation (WHO) in the
Health for All Declaration (1978) highlighted the need to include local
communities, their traditions and practices in primary health care. The inclusion
of local communities meant that their indigenous medical practices could be used
to achieve primary health care goals because the indigenous systems of health
The use of indigenous knowledge in primary health care 273
care and healing practices have had to meet the needs of the local communities
over many centuries and continue to do so (Lama, 2000). Two major assertions
were made about the potential use of traditional medicine in primary health care.
Keleher (2001) asserted that to make primary health care readily accessible and
acceptable in the local communities, community participation would be essential.
For von Wolputte and Devisch (2002), community involvement could enable
communities to deal with their health problems in the most suitable ways, and
community leaders could make rational decisions concerning primary health care
and ensure appropriate support for health projects.
Indigenous knowledge of health care rests on the application of traditional
medicine to meet primary health care needs. Ethnomedical practices form the
basis for indigenous health care systems. The practices are derived from
knowledge of the uses of specific plant and animal materials (Saray, 2001) for
protective, preventive and curative health care. Knowledge of indigenous plant-
derived medicine is the oldest form of health care known to humans and the art
of herbal healing is as ancient as human history. Traditional herbal medicine
continued to play a significant role in remedial, prevention and protection of life-
threatening diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV and AIDS in
developing countries, though no adequate scientific evidence has been
documented about the safety, quality and efficacy of the medicines (MRC,
2008).
Du Toi (1998) and Marecik (2007) attest that indigenous knowledge of health
care is not only accomplished through administration of herbal medicine.
Indigenous knowledge about the causes of disease is an important element that
could be useful towards the achievement of primary health care needs. The
knowledge provides varieties of factors responsible for disease and treatment
that involves remedial, protective and preventive care. Onu (1996) adds that at
community level, beliefs about the cause of disease are intimately related to
magic, science and religion. In addition to disease etiology, primary health care
could be enhanced by people’s explanatory models of disease which are formed
from cultural symbols, experiences and expectations associated with categories
of disease (Patel, 1995). The models reveal sickness labelling and cultural idioms
to experiences of disease and decisions for treatment. In addition to these belief
systems, the indigenous dietary systems proved to have health potential. Marecik
(2007) and the World Bank (2004) ascertained that traditional vegetables and
fruits provide an important daily nutrient intake with respect of vitamins,
calcium, iron, zinc, protein, carbohydrates and beta-carotene.
Research on indigenous medicinal plant use in South African rural areas was
extensively documented with little focus on the role of indigenous knowledge
and practices in the prevention and cure of disease. The present study was
designed to explore the importance of indigenous knowledge in meeting primary
274 Rankoana, Nel, Mothibi, Mothiba, Mamogobo and Setwaba
health care needs. The study examined the indigenous knowledge systems and
practices which have preventive, curative and protective health care in Makanye
community in Limpopo Province. The results of the study could be used to
design community-based primary health care programmes which will draw from
the local communities’ indigenous knowledge systems of health care.
Methodology
Study area
The study is based on fieldwork conducted in Makanye community in
Polokwane Local Municipality, Limpopo Province. The community covers the
area of 4.90 km² with a population of about 9536 (1946.37 per km²). It is made
up of 2256 households (460.47 per km²). Racial groups are Black African
(9486), Coloureds (28), Indian/Asian (9), White (7) and other (6). The main
languages spoken are Sepedi, which is spoken by 9314, Xitsonga by 72,
Tshivenda by 50, Setswana by 48, English and Afrikaans by 52 community
members (Polokwane Local Municipality Integrated Development Plan [IDP],
2013/2014).
Study design
A qualitative study was conducted to examine the role of indigenous knowledge
to meet primary health care needs in Makanye community. The study explored
the indigenous knowledge systems used to prevent, protect and cure disease
through direct interactions with the participants.
Participants
The study sample was made up of 100 community members purposely sampled.
The age of participants ranged from 45 to 92 years. The sex ratio of the
participants was 50 % female and 50% male. Fifty three percent of participants
had a high school education, 10% had graduate and post-graduate education.
Thirty two percent of the participants were never employed, professionals were
two and 13 were self-employed.
Collection and analysis of data
Thirteen focus group discussions were conducted. Each group was made up of 8
members. One group was made up of 4 elderly members aged between 80 and
92. The research questions were based on the indigenous methods of protective,
preventive and curative health care. Three research assistants were appointed to
assist with data collection and analysis. Data were translated from Sepedi to
English and edited by experts in the Department of Translation Studies at the
The use of indigenous knowledge in primary health care 275
host institution. Analysis of data was accomplished through content analysis.
Similar words and concepts were grouped together to formulate headings and
subheadings to enable data interpretation.
Trustworthiness
Trust and mutual relationships were created to allow the participants to freely
express themselves in their home language; Sepedi. The researcher repeated the
research questions at the end of the discussions to validate the data. Bias was
avoided by analysis of the participants’ answers to the research questions other
than the researcher’s own knowledge of the use of indigenous knowledge in
preventive, protective and curative care of primary health care.
Ethical considerations
The participants consented to participate in the study by signing the consent
form. Ethical approval was obtained from the host university ethics committee.
The local authorities of Makanye community granted the research team
permission to conduct the study. The real names and identities of the participants
were not used to maintain anonymity and confidentiality.
Results
The role of indigenous knowledge in primary health care
The participants’ responses to the questions about the cultural practices they use
to prevent and cure disease provided the following:
Indigenous explanations of disease
The participants’ explanations of disease were reported. There was general
consensus that disease is a state of the human body disequilibrium. Disease is
described as a symptom of dysfunctional body systems. It is prevented and cured
in terms of how it is understood and described by the patient or his/her family
members or the traditional health practitioner. These explanatory models were
the basis for disease etiology described during the discussions.
Disease etiology
The responses provided during the discussions revealed the participants’
knowledge about factors responsible for many of the diseases that attack
community members. The participants reported that badimo (ancestral spirits),
witches and sorcerers are the main causes of misfortunes, impotency, insanity,
miscarriage and infertility as well as epilepsy and physical deformity.
276 Rankoana, Nel, Mothibi, Mothiba, Mamogobo and Setwaba
Knowledge about the causes of disease is important in preventive care of
primary health care. The knowledge limits susceptibility to disease as the causes
of disease could be avoided to maintain a state of well-being. Diseases also could
be prevented through performance of sacrifices and observance of cultural
taboos.
Indigenous dietary systems
The indigenous knowledge about dietary systems has health potential. The
participants reported that traditional subsistence crops, vegetables and fruits are
nutritious foods and primary sources of body strength that reduces susceptibility
to disease.
Traditional health practitioners
It was reported that the traditional health practitioners are the indigenous
knowledge holders and sources of primary health care offered through holistic
care by administration of indigenous plant-derived medicines. The medicines are
administered for prevention, protection and cure of disease.
Medical ethnobotanical knowledge
The participants reported that indigenous plant species are sources of medicine
prepared and administered for preventive, protective and curative care by
traditional health practitioners and elderly members of the community
community with knowledge of plant properties and their healing potential.
Discussion
The indigenous knowledge systems used in primary health care are reported in
the study. The systems are sources of preventive, protective and curative care of
primary health care. Indigenous knowledge about the causes of disease is an
important element in protective and preventive health care. With this knowledge
people are able to avoid susceptibility to disease by avoidance of disease causing
agents. Additionally, the participants are knowledgeable about the health
potential of traditional subsistence crops. Lama (2000), Hall and Patrinos (2005)
corroborate these findings by showing that the indigenous knowledge of health
care is usually part of a wider system of knowledge about health and illness. The
medical ethnobotanical knowledge reported in the study is an important element
of primary health care. In the study, knowledge of the plant properties and their
healing potential are important aspects of preventive and curative primary health
care. Regassa (2013) supports this finding that medicinal plants play an
important role to meet primary health care needs in most developing countries.
The use of indigenous knowledge in primary health care 277
Tapan (2014), Tripathi, Shashi, Varma and Goldey (2011) show that knowledge
of folk medicine offers immediate treatment of common diseases.
The use of indigenous knowledge systems to meet primary health care needs
reported in the study is firmly accepted by lead development organizations such
as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Bank (WHO, 1996;
2003; World Bank, 2004). The WHO launched the Traditional Medicine
Strategy in the Year 2000 to assist countries to develop national policies on the
evaluation of traditional medical practice for the possibility of its integration into
the National Health Plans. Traditional medicine, it is believed, could provide
sound basis for a cheaper, accessible, and reliable health care delivery because it
is culture-bound. Due to the high cost of primary health care, the WHO
encouraged developing countries to redistribute functions and responsibilities
with the purpose of reducing costs and increasing the efficacy and productivity
in the use of traditional medicine in primary health care (WHO 2005). The
World Bank (2004) recommended the use of traditional plant-derived medicines
in primary health care. This increasing acceptance suggests that indigenous
knowledge still plays a crucial role in meeting primary health care needs and
could be incorporated into the mainstream health care to offer accessible,
affordable and comprehensive health care.
Conclusion
Indigenous knowledge has a health potential. Many of the cultural values and
practices are intentionally developed and ageed-upon to maintain good health
and well-being of community members. Indigenous knowledge used in primary
health care embraces knowledge about the cause of diseases, knowledge of
indigenous plant medicine administered for preventive, protective and curative
care, consumption of subsistence crops, medical ethnobotanical knowledge and
the use of traditional health practitioners’ medicines. The results of this study
could be used to design community-based primary health care programmes
which will draw from the local communities’ knowledge systems of health care.
The study recommends further scientific research to explore the indigenous
knowledge systems reported in the study, validate the systems and adopt them to
achieve Sustainable Development Goals to ensure healthy lives and promote
well-being for all people.
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... Traditional health care practitioners are the indigenous knowledge holders and in most cases first point of contact when an indigenous person needs primary health care services. Traditional health care practitioners play a primary role in disease prevention, protection and cure (Rankoana et al. 2015). Health care promotion is viewed as crucial in the prevention of diseases, as it entails promoting health care through performing traditional rituals and practices. ...
... Indigenous dietary subsistence crops and vegetables are nutritious; hence their consumption plays an important role in health care promotion and disease prevention (Rankoana et al. 2015, Steenkamp 2020. See indigenous vegetables outlined in Chapter 13. ...
... In a case study conducted among the Makanye community in Limpopo, it was discovered that traditional fruits are nutritious and are a primary source of body strength that plays an important role in disease prevention (Rankoana et al. 2015). However, a study conducted in Uganda and Kenya revealed a decline in the consumption of indigenous wild fruits, which leads to malnutrition in children (Kimani et al. 2020). ...
View
... Traditional health care practitioners are the indigenous knowledge holders and in most cases first point of contact when an indigenous person needs primary health care services. Traditional health care practitioners play a primary role in disease prevention, protection and cure (Rankoana et al. 2015). Health care promotion is viewed as crucial in the prevention of diseases, as it entails promoting health care through performing traditional rituals and practices. ...
... Indigenous dietary subsistence crops and vegetables are nutritious; hence their consumption plays an important role in health care promotion and disease prevention (Rankoana et al. 2015, Steenkamp 2020. See indigenous vegetables outlined in Chapter 13. ...
... In a case study conducted among the Makanye community in Limpopo, it was discovered that traditional fruits are nutritious and are a primary source of body strength that plays an important role in disease prevention (Rankoana et al. 2015). However, a study conducted in Uganda and Kenya revealed a decline in the consumption of indigenous wild fruits, which leads to malnutrition in children (Kimani et al. 2020). ...
View
... Traditional health care practitioners are the indigenous knowledge holders and in most cases first point of contact when an indigenous person needs primary health care services. Traditional health care practitioners play a primary role in disease prevention, protection and cure (Rankoana et al. 2015). Health care promotion is viewed as crucial in the prevention of diseases, as it entails promoting health care through performing traditional rituals and practices. ...
... Indigenous dietary subsistence crops and vegetables are nutritious; hence their consumption plays an important role in health care promotion and disease prevention (Rankoana et al. 2015, Steenkamp 2020. See indigenous vegetables outlined in Chapter 13. ...
... In a case study conducted among the Makanye community in Limpopo, it was discovered that traditional fruits are nutritious and are a primary source of body strength that plays an important role in disease prevention (Rankoana et al. 2015). However, a study conducted in Uganda and Kenya revealed a decline in the consumption of indigenous wild fruits, which leads to malnutrition in children (Kimani et al. 2020). ...
View
... Traditional health care practitioners are the indigenous knowledge holders and in most cases first point of contact when an indigenous person needs primary health care services. Traditional health care practitioners play a primary role in disease prevention, protection and cure (Rankoana et al. 2015). Health care promotion is viewed as crucial in the prevention of diseases, as it entails promoting health care through performing traditional rituals and practices. ...
... Indigenous dietary subsistence crops and vegetables are nutritious; hence their consumption plays an important role in health care promotion and disease prevention (Rankoana et al. 2015, Steenkamp 2020. See indigenous vegetables outlined in Chapter 13. ...
... In a case study conducted among the Makanye community in Limpopo, it was discovered that traditional fruits are nutritious and are a primary source of body strength that plays an important role in disease prevention (Rankoana et al. 2015). However, a study conducted in Uganda and Kenya revealed a decline in the consumption of indigenous wild fruits, which leads to malnutrition in children (Kimani et al. 2020). ...
View
... This was based on, but not limited to, the premise that the indigenous systems of health care practices have been employed to meet the needs of communities over numerous centuries and continue to do so now (Janska, 2008;Lama, 2000). Indigenous knowledge of health care is simply based on the application of traditional medicine [TM] to gratify health care necessities (Rankoana et al., 2015). According to WHO (2002), "traditional medicine" denotes knowledge, opinions, and approaches encompassing plant, mineral or animal-based treatments, spiritual rehabilitation, and manual procedures used independently or collaboratively for preventive, protective, and curative health care. ...
... Using Africa as a case study, the present chapter, therefore, seeks to make a case for epistemic justice and indigenous knowledge integration in public health and public health education interventions intending to foster good health and wellbeing for all as captured in the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs]-3 (Rankoana et al., 2015). The rest of the chapter will examine the interplay between public health and epistemic justice, the methodological approach, key findings and discussions, and conclude with some recommendations. ...
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View
... This was based on, but not limited to, the premise that the indigenous systems of health care practices have been employed to meet the needs of communities over numerous centuries and continue to do so now (Janska, 2008;Lama, 2000). Indigenous knowledge of health care is simply based on the application of traditional medicine [TM] to gratify health care necessities (Rankoana et al., 2015). According to WHO (2002), "traditional medicine" denotes knowledge, opinions, and approaches encompassing plant, mineral or animal-based treatments, spiritual rehabilitation, and manual procedures used independently or collaboratively for preventive, protective, and curative health care. ...
... Using Africa as a case study, the present chapter, therefore, seeks to make a case for epistemic justice and indigenous knowledge integration in public health and public health education interventions intending to foster good health and wellbeing for all as captured in the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs]-3 (Rankoana et al., 2015). The rest of the chapter will examine the interplay between public health and epistemic justice, the methodological approach, key findings and discussions, and conclude with some recommendations. ...
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Since 2015, the United Nations call to action about the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals, including targets related to the health and well-being of populations. Indigenous populations in southern Mexico are the most affected by social inequities, making traditional medicine more accessible and affordable for their treatment. This chapter aims to describe traditional medicine practices in the main illness conditions of Mexican indigenous communities. A case study was carried out in Oaxaca (Mexico) between 2017 and 2019. Surveys were applied to retrieve information on these communities’ knowledge and practices regarding traditional medicine. Several traditional practices were recovered to cure diseases cataloged in international classifications and cultural affiliation syndromes among the main results. 70.3% of the participants used homemade remedies, topically, in preparation of tea, and some compositions of medicinal herbs. Mezcal, the typical alcoholic beverage of the region, has also been reported as one of the most widely used. In addition to the conception of biomedical disease, a total of 40 syndromes of cultural filiation or “cultural diseases” were reported; the most frequent were empacho (indigestion), followed by the mal de ojo (the evil eye), and susto (frighten). This chapter brings us closer to knowing how they cope with illness by using traditional medicine in indigenous communities without the use of health services. Contributing to reach the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3).KeywordsTraditional medicineCultural affiliation syndromesPrimary healthcare
View
... This was based on, but not limited to, the premise that the indigenous systems of health care practices have been employed to meet the needs of communities over numerous centuries and continue to do so now (Janska, 2008;Lama, 2000). Indigenous knowledge of health care is simply based on the application of traditional medicine [TM] to gratify health care necessities (Rankoana et al., 2015). According to WHO (2002), "traditional medicine" denotes knowledge, opinions, and approaches encompassing plant, mineral or animal-based treatments, spiritual rehabilitation, and manual procedures used independently or collaboratively for preventive, protective, and curative health care. ...
... Using Africa as a case study, the present chapter, therefore, seeks to make a case for epistemic justice and indigenous knowledge integration in public health and public health education interventions intending to foster good health and wellbeing for all as captured in the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs]-3 (Rankoana et al., 2015). The rest of the chapter will examine the interplay between public health and epistemic justice, the methodological approach, key findings and discussions, and conclude with some recommendations. ...
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... As the traditional healthcare practitioners become personally involved in the specific rituals required for the preparation, planting and harvesting of the medicinal plants, they re-emphasise the significance of the rituals. Interpreting these rituals in spiritual terms makes them indispensable in the production of mpesu (Rankoana et al., 2015). It also protects them from rogue and merely financial seeking entrepreneurs, willing to take advantage of their labour, without giving them credit (a sort of intellectual property). ...
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... Indigenous knowledge is founded on social, physical, and spiritual understandings that have contributed to the people's sense of being in the world as well as played a role in the people's ability to continue existing. According to Rankoana et al., [8] indigenous knowledge has a health potential in primary health services. This includes the knowledge about the causes of disease, the knowledge about native plant medicines given for preventive, protective, and curative care, the consumption of subsystem plants, the knowledge of medical ethnobotany, and the use of medicines. ...
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Concurrent use of herbal and prescribed medicine by patients in primary health care clinics, South Africa
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  • May 2023
Background: The use of herbal medicine (HM) as a self-management practice for treating various diseases has gained popularity worldwide. Consumers co-administer herbal products with conventional medicine without the knowledge of possible herb-drug interaction (HDI). Aim: This study aimed to assess patients’ perception and use of HM and their knowledge of HDI. Setting: Participants attending primary health care (PHC) clinics in three provinces (Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Free State), South Africa, were recruited. Methods: Focus group discussions comprising a total of thirty (N = 30) participants were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Discussions were audio-recorded and then transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results: Reasons for using HM, sources of information on HM, co-administration of HM and prescribed medicine, disclosure of the use of HM, PHC nurses’ attitudes and not having time to engage were frequently discussed. Respondents’ lack of knowledge and perceptions about HDI and their dissatisfaction with prescribed medicine because of experienced side effects were also discussed. Conclusion: Because of the lack of discussions and non-disclosure about HM in PHC clinics, patients are at risk of experiencing HDIs. Primary health care providers should regularly enquire about HM use on every patient, to identify and prevent HDIs. The lack of knowledge about HDIs by patients further compromises the safety of HM. Contribution: The results highlighted the lack of knowledge of HDI by patients thus assisting the healthcare stakeholders in South Africa to implement measures to educate patients attending PHC clinics.
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Assessment of indigenous knowledge of medicinal plant practice and mode of service delivery in Hawassa city, southern Ethiopia
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2018
  • J MED PLANTS RES
An assessment of indigenous knowledge of medicinal plant was carried out to collect and document information on the use of traditional medicinal plants of local people of Hawassa city, southern Ethiopia. Group discussion, semi-structured interviews, field observations or guided field walks with informants to obtain indigenous knowledge of the local community on health, vegetation of the locality,use, conservation and threats of medicinal plants were carried out. A total of 83 medicinal plants and 11 medicinal animals were collected to treat 53 human and livestock ailments. Among the total traditional medicinal plants, 71 species (85.5%) were used against human aliements,3 species (3.6%) were used to treat health problems of livestock and 9 (10.84%) species were used to treat both human and livestock ailments. Fabaceae was the most dominant medicinal plant family reported. Leaves were the dominant plant part used to prepare remedies (31.9%), followed by seeds (19%). High degree of informant consensus factor (ICF) was observed among traditional healers in treating gonorrhea (ICF = 0.77), wound (ICF = 0.76) and stomach ace (0.76). The species with the highest level of fidelity (FL =100%) in treatment of malaria. Traditional remedies were processed mainly through crushing (28.2%), chewing (12.27%), squeezed (12.27%) and powdered (9.2%).
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Why Primary Health Care Offers a more Comprehensive Approach to Tackling Health Inequities than Primary Care
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2001
As governments attempt to focus more intently on how to deal with alarming measures of health disadvantage and inequities, a reformist gaze seems to have settled on the primary care sector. Simultaneously, in literature about this area, whether intended or not, primary health care and primary care are terms that are increasingly interchanged. This article argues that the slippage in language is counter-productive, first because it disguises the transformative potential of strategies and approaches that can make the fundamental changes necessary to improve health status, and second because the structures and practices of the primary care sector are not necessarily compatible with notions of comprehensive primary health care. There is much to be lost if primary health care and health promotion are disguised as primary care, and not understood for their capacity to make a difference to health inequities although of course in some circumstances, comprehensive primary health care is interdependent with services provided by primary care. In this article, characteristics of primary care and primary health care are juxtaposed to show that if the strengths and limitations of each model are understood, they can be mobilised in collaborative partnerships to deal more effectively with health inequities, than our system has so far been able to do.
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Indigenous Peoples, Poverty, and Development
Book
  • May 2012
This is the first book that documents poverty systematically for the world's indigenous peoples in developing regions in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The volume compiles results for roughly 85 percent of the world's indigenous peoples. It draws on nationally representative data to compare trends in countries' poverty rates and other social indicators with those for indigenous sub-populations and provides comparable data for a wide range of countries all over the world. It estimates global poverty numbers and analyzes other important development indicators, such as schooling, health and social protection. Provocatively, the results show a marked difference in results across regions, with rapid poverty reduction among indigenous (and non-indigenous) populations in Asia contrasting with relative stagnation – and in some cases falling back – in Latin America and Africa. Two main factors motivate the book. First, there is a growing concern among poverty analysts worldwide that countries with significant vulnerable populations – such as indigenous peoples – may not meet the Millennium Development Goals, and thus there exists a consequent need for better data tracking conditions among these groups. Second, there is a growing call by indigenous organizations, including the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples, for solid, disaggregated data analyzing the size and causes of the “development gap.”
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Using plants for health: Indigenous knowledge in health care in a tribal region of Bihar, India
Article
  • Dec 2000
While the potential of indigenous knowledge for health care is fully recognised in the literature and by many health professionals, the practices of so many indigenous peoples go unrecorded and untested. Indigenous knowledge remains essentially untapped, an unwritten resource involving information, language and skills in many groups, languages, cultures and environments. An attempt is made in this paper to identify selected indigenous health technologies in a tribal area of Bihar State, India; to describe the treatments, their application and preparation; and to link the traditional practice with the relevant scientific information to test or determine the validity of the practices. These practices were found to be effective in the treatment of a variety of health problems, and most were also scientifically confirmed. The paper argues, however, that other plant uses practised by tribal people still need to be explored: in order to popularise more widely the authenticated practices; to preserve indigenous knowledge; to integrate or blend it with scientific knowledge so that health professionals and healthcare users may benefit from a wider range of healthcare strategies which are environmentally unthreatening.
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Explanatory models of mental illness in Sub Saharan Africa
Article
  • Jun 1995
Knowledge of explanatory models of illness can be used to conduct cross-cultural epidemiological studies which, while being culturally sensitive, are also comparable with other studies. This paper reviews studies from sub-Saharan Africa which examine beliefs relating to mental illness. There is a rich diversity of beliefs, but within this diversity are a number of shared concepts. Thus, many African cultures do distinguish between the mind and body. The mind is cited as residing in the head as well as the heart or abdominal region. Spiritual causes are frequent explanations for mental illness. Though there are some similarities with biomedical concepts of mental illness, there are also significant variations. Psychotic illness is often recognized as 'madness' though emphasis is on behavioural symptoms rather than delusions; neurotic presentations are much more varied, often somatically defined and may not be considered to be mental illnesses at all. Emic psychiatric instruments need to be developed if future cross-cultural psychiatric research is to be both comparable and culturally valid.
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Modern folk medicine in South Africa
  • Jan 1998
  • 89-92
  • B M Du Toit
Du Toit, B.M. (1998). Modern folk medicine in South Africa. South African Journal of Ethnology, 21(4), 89-92.
Peru: Traditional Knowledge Enhances Modern Medicine
  • Oct 2000
  • A Lama
Lama, A. (2000). Peru: Traditional Knowledge Enhances Modern Medicine. http://www. twnside. org.sg/title/enhance.htm. Accessed September 2015.
Promotion of Public Health Care Using African Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Implications for IPRs: Experiences from Southern and Eastern Africa
  • Jan 2007
  • N Marecik
Marecik, N. (2007). Traditional societies in East Africa use wild plants for different purposes and means to survive. In H.O. Kay (Ed.), Promotion of Public Health Care Using African Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Implications for IPRs: Experiences from Southern and Eastern Africa. ATPS Special Paper Series no. 30. Nairobi: African Technology Policy Studies Network.