Communication Disorders in Patients with Parkinson's disease: Perspectives of Traditional Healers

Abstract

Two-thirds of the global population consult the services of traditional health care practitioners (THPs) with 80% of the African population using traditional medicine (WHO, 2001a). Western conventional treatment approaches to health and specifically communication disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have failed to recognize the significant role that THPs fulfil in the lives of a vast majority of African people and in comprehensive health care. This article contextualizes an exploratory and descriptive study on the perceptions of THPs regarding the treatment of patients with communication disorders resulting from PD. A purposive sample of 20 multilingual THPs was interviewed using a structured interview schedule. Results indicate that THPs and western practices view illness and healing from different frames of reference, yet complimentary, whilst striving for best treatment models of practice for the patient. The study contributed to the knowledge base of the significance of a multi-disciplinary approach when dealing with patients with PD and in health care in general. Limitations of the study include a small sample size and geographical location, impacting on generalisability.

Keywords:

• Health care in South Africa
• traditional health practitioners
• communication disorders
• Parkinson's disease
• multidisciplinary approach