Cultural aspects of epilepsy: A perspective of traditional healers in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province

Abstract

The social position of people suffering with epilepsy in many societies of Africa is marginal at best, and is often characterised by rejection,  discrimination, and even ostracism. In South Africa, the different cultural understandings and terms used to explain the  condition across the diverse population groups exacerbate the problem. This study sought to describe beliefs, perceptions and attitudes  by traditional healers in the Vhembe district of Limpopo Province. Semistructured interviews were conducted to collect data from the five  participating traditional healers who were registered with the African Religion/Culture and Health Forum. Four themes emerged during  the process of data analyses. They are: the traditional healers’ understanding of epilepsy; treatment and management of epilepsy;  traditional healers’ perception about the cause and the perceived impact on the patient’s quality of life. The findings of this study are interpreted within the Afrocentric perspective as this paradigm locates research from an African viewpoint and create Africa’s own  intellectual perspective. This study reveals that according to the traditional healers that participated in the study epilepsy is not well  understood by our rural communities. Some of the causes discussed by traditional healers includes witchcraft, spirit possession and  punishment from the ancestors. The traditional healers believe that while epilepsy can be treated through traditional healing methods,  however, they are willing to initiate collaborations with western mental health practitioners in its endeavour to integrate the two heath  care systems.