Concurrent use of traditional medicine and ART: Perspectives of patients, providers and traditional healers in Durban, South Africa

Abstract

The concurrent use of traditional African medicine (TAM) and allopathic medicine is not well understood for people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the era of antiretroviral therapy (ART). This cross-sectional, qualitative study examines perceptions of the concurrent use of TAM and ART among: (1) patients receiving ART at the Sinikithemba HIV Clinic of McCord Hospital, in Durban, South Africa; (2) allopathic medical providers (doctors, nurses and HIV counsellors) from Sinikithemba; and (3) local traditional healers. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 26 participants between July and October, 2011. Patients in this study did not view TAM as an alternative to ART; rather, results show that patients employ TAM and ART for distinctly different needs. More research is needed to further understand the relationship between traditional and allopathic approaches to health care in South Africa, to improve cultural relevance in the provision and delivery of care for PLHIV, and to pragmatically address the concerns of health care providers and public health officials managing this intersection in South Africa and elsewhere.

Keywords:

• HIV/AIDS
• traditional African medicine
• antiretroviral therapy (ART)
• South Africa
• qualitative research

Acknowledgements

We gratefully thank the Sinikithemba Clinic at McCord Hospital in Durban, South Africa and traditional healers in Durban and the surrounding communities for their commitment to improve patient care and support research. We thank all the patients of this clinic for their participation and the staff (counsellors, medical records staff, nurses, and medical officers) for providing vital assistance in the data collection. We also thank Krista Dong, MD and Deli Mthimkhulu of the iTEACH programme at Edendale Hospital, and Carlos del Rio, MD of Emory University Rollins School of Public Health for their generous support of our work.

Funding

Grant support came from Emory University Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) [P30 AI050409] and the Emory School of Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases, NIH [R01 – AI098558], CDC Cooperative Agreement [U62/CCU123541-01], and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation as part of Project HEART.

Additional information

Funding

Funding: Grant support came from Emory University Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) [P30 AI050409] and the Emory School of Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases, NIH [R01 – AI098558], CDC Cooperative Agreement [U62/CCU123541-01], and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation as part of Project HEART.