NDLI: “We have to learn to cooperate with each other”: a qualitative study to explore integration of traditional healers into the provision of HIV self-testing and tuberculosis screening in Eswatini

Content Provider	Springer Nature : BioMed Central
Author	Schausberger, Bernadette Mmema, Nqobile Dlamini, Velibanti Dube, Lenhle Aung, Aung Kerschberger, Bernhard Ciglenecki, Iza Vambe, Debrah Mukooza, Esther Wringe, Alison
Abstract	Background Traditional healing plays an important role in healthcare in Eswatini, and innovative collaborations with traditional healers may enable hard-to-reach men to access HIV and tuberculosis diagnostic services. This study explored attitudes towards integration of traditional healers into the provision of HIV self-testing kits and sputum collection containers. Methods A qualitative study was conducted in 2019–2020 in Shiselweni region, Eswatini. Eight male traditional healers were trained on HIV and tuberculosis care including distribution of HIV self-testing kits and sputum collection containers. Attitudes towards the intervention were elicited through in-depth interviews with the eight traditional healers, ten clients, five healthcare workers and seven focus group discussions with community members. Interviews and group discussions were conducted in SiSwati, audio-recorded, translated and transcribed into English. Data were coded inductively and analysed thematically. Results 81 HIV self-testing kits and 24 sputum collection containers were distributed by the healers to 99 clients, with 14% of participants reporting a reactive HIV self-test result. The distribution of sputum containers did not result in any tuberculosis diagnoses, as samples were refused at health centres. Traditional healers perceived themselves as important healthcare providers, and after training, were willing and able to distribute HIV self-test kits and sputum containers to clients. Many saw themselves as peers who could address barriers to health-seeking among Swazi men that reflected hegemonic masculinities and patriarchal attitudes. Traditional healers were considered to provide services that were private, flexible, efficient and non-judgemental, although some clients and community members expressed concerns over confidentiality breaches. Attitudes among health workers were mixed, with some calling for greater collaboration with traditional healers and others expressing doubts about their potential role in promoting HIV and tuberculosis services. Specifically, many health workers did not accept sputum samples collected outside health facilities. Conclusions Offering HIV self-testing kits and sputum containers through traditional healers led to high HIV yields, but no TB diagnoses. The intervention was appreciated by healers’ clients, due to the cultural literacy of traditional healers and practical considerations. Scaling-up this approach could bridge testing gaps if traditional healers are supported, but procedures for receiving sputum samples at health facilities need further strengthening.
Related Links	https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s12913-021-07323-1.pdf
Ending Page	8
Page Count	8
Starting Page	1
File Format	HTM / HTML
ISSN	14726963
DOI	10.1186/s12913-021-07323-1
Journal	BMC Health Services Research
Issue Number	1
Volume Number	21
Language	English
Publisher	BioMed Central
Publisher Date	2021-12-06
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Public Health Health Administration Health Informatics Nursing Research Traditional healers HIV self-testing Tuberculosis screening Health-seeking behaviour Eswatini
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Health Policy

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

Using traditional healers to treat child malnutrition: a qualitative study of health-seeking behaviour in eastern Ethiopia

Traditional healers use of personal protective equipment: a qualitative study in rural South Africa

Africa and India: What Do We Have to Learn from Each Other?

A qualitative study to explore the healthcare-seeking experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Rwanda

Venues and methods to improve professional men’s access to HIV self-testing and linkage to HIV prevention or treatment: a qualitative study

Other health-seeking behaviour of HIV and AIDS patients visiting private sector doctors in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal

‘There are no more secrets’: acceptability of a family-centered model of care for HIV positive children in Eswatini

Symptomatic HIV-Positive Persons in Rural Mozambique Who First Consult a Traditional Healer Have Delays in HIV Testing

Sharing Experience: What Can We Learn from Each Other Developing Plant Informatics Systems

“We have to learn to cooperate with each other”: a qualitative study to explore integration of traditional healers into the provision of HIV self-testing and tuberculosis screening in Eswatini

Similar Documents

Using traditional healers to treat child malnutrition: a qualitative study of health-seeking behaviour in eastern Ethiopia

Traditional healers use of personal protective equipment: a qualitative study in rural South Africa

Africa and India: What Do We Have to Learn from Each Other?

A qualitative study to explore the healthcare-seeking experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Rwanda

Venues and methods to improve professional men’s access to HIV self-testing and linkage to HIV prevention or treatment: a qualitative study

Other health-seeking behaviour of HIV and AIDS patients visiting private sector doctors in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal

‘There are no more secrets’: acceptability of a family-centered model of care for HIV positive children in Eswatini

Symptomatic HIV-Positive Persons in Rural Mozambique Who First Consult a Traditional Healer Have Delays in HIV Testing

Sharing Experience: What Can We Learn from Each Other Developing Plant Informatics Systems

“We have to learn to cooperate with each other”: a qualitative study to explore integration of traditional healers into the provision of HIV self-testing and tuberculosis screening in Eswatini