Department of Psychology

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Browsing Department of Psychology by Subject "362.20968257"

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    Experiences of female traditional healers on their practice at Makhado Municipality of the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province
    (2017-09-18) Rambau, Musiiwa Ivy; Takalani, F. J.; Mushwana, M. D.; Mashamba, T. M.
    See the attached abstract below
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    Guidelines for provision of maternal mental health care services by traditional healers in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province
    (2025-09-05) Rambau, Musiiwa Ivy; Mulaudzi, T.; Takalani, J.; Mushwana, D.
    Background: Women have an increased risk of mental health disorders during pregnancy, especially after giving birth, and these disorders are associated with increased maternal morbidity and mortality, and adverse child health outcomes. Traditional healers (THs) are an important source of psychiatric support to pregnant women in many parts of the world. The aim of this study was to develop guidelines to be used by THs in the provision of maternal mental health care services at Vhembe District in Limpopo Province. The study consists of two phases, namely, the Empirical Phase (Phase 1) and the Guidelines Development Phase (Phase 2). In Phase 1, a qualitative approach was used to conduct the study. Purpose: The purpose of the study was two-fold: Phase 1 (Empirical Phase): Phase 1a focused on exploring THs’ knowledge on maternal mental health care, to identify maternal mental health care needs, to describe maternal mental health care services provided by THs, to discuss the possibility of referral by THs. Phase 1b focused on exploring the experiences of pregnant mothers in the provision of mental health care services by THs. Phase 2 (Profiling the Guidelines): The purpose of this phase was to use the findings of Phase 1 to profile the guidelines for provision of maternal mental health care services by THs at selected villages of Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Methods: The design of the study was guided by the WHO Model of Guideline Development (2012). The model focuses on the contextual factors - enabling factors, predisposing factors and needs factors - that influence the individual’s utilization of health care services. Seven selected villages of Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa, were selected for the study. The qualitative research method was used to conduct Phases 1a and 1b of the study. A qualitative study was used to explore the objectives of the study. Results: Following in-depth analysis of interview data, several main themes were identified from study participants, viz., THs and pregnant women who accessed maternal mental health care services provided. The study utilized an explorative-descriptive research design. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to draw 14 participants from the selected villages of Vhembe District in Limpopo Province. Data were collected from participants using semi-structured and unstructured interview methods of the qualitative approach. Data collected were analyzed using thematic content analysis. To ensure trustworthiness of the study, the researcher applied the following criteria: credibility and dependability. Internal and external ethics protocols were taken into consideration when the study was conducted. Phase 2 concentrated on developing guidelines for provision of maternal mental health care services by THs. The researcher adopted Steps 2 to 9 stipulated in the WHO (2012) Handbook for Guideline Development. The main themes raised by the THs who provided mental health care were financial support, accessibility to resources, safety and security needs, non-adherence by patients on mental health care services, and combination of Western and Traditional mental health care services. The pregnant women in this study identified lack of respect, discrimination, accessibility challenges, gaps in available maternal mental health care services, diagnosis methods utilized, decentralized maternal mental health care services, lack of information, affordability, long waiting period in hospital and effectiveness of maternal mental health treatment utilized as challenges associated with poor maternal mental health care services delivery and outcomes. The quality of maternal mental health care services in Western intervention models was perceived as poor by both the pregnant women seeking care and THs providing maternal mental health care. The main concerns raised by pregnant women were lack of respect, lack of privacy, and difficulty to receive mental health care services in hospital. The results confirmed that guidelines were needed for the effectiveness in the provision of maternal mental health care services by THs. The findings from the qualitative study were used by an expert group to develop guidelines to enhance effectiveness in the provision of maternal mental health care services by THs. The profiling of the guidelines was validated by group experts. The researcher adopted Steps 2 to 9 stipulated in WHO (2012) Handbook for Guideline Development. The selected Guidelines Development Group (GDG) assisted in validating the guidelines profiled. The validated guidelines were useful to the researcher to verify whether the guidelines developed were congruent with the practice of THs in the provision of maternal mental health care services. Conclusion: This study concludes that access to comprehensive quality maternal mental health care services must be rendered to all women in times of need. Quality maternal mental health care services should be rendered by skilled THs who underwent training and are well-equipped to be functional in the provision of maternal mental health care services and the researcher updated the guidelines accordingly.
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