Management of perceived mental health problems by spiritual healers : a Nigerian study

Objective : Anecdotal reports and research findings have suggested that religious healers are widely consulted by many Nigerians in time of mental health crisis. The study aimed at examining the knowledge; attitude and practice of mental health care among a syncretic Church's healers; and their readiness to cooperate with Psychiatrists. Method : A modified; pilot-tested; self-completed questionnaire was used to obtain information from consenting spiritual healers who satisfy the inclusion criteria. Focus group discussions (FGDs); Participatory Observation (PO) and Key Informant Interviews (KII) were used to corroborate or refute the findings. Results : The respondents' knowledge of mental disorders was limited to psychotic disorders; their explanatory model was similar to beliefs of the populace. In practice; they combined some modern medical approach; some native methodology and some eclectic religious practices such as prophecy; trance and dream. Only 6of them ever referred their clients to medical practitioners. Conclusion : Religious healers still constitute an important route to access mental health care providers to some Nigerians

Traitement des affections mentales par la priere : experience de deux centres d'acceuil et de priere au Burkina Faso

Les auteurs ont observe et analyse les methodes therapeutiques et leur impact sur les patients de deux centres reputes celebres pour le traitement de maladies par la priere. Par l'observation participative; les interviews et un questionnaire standardise; des donnees sur la presentation physique des centres et les therapeutiques employees ont ete recueillies. Les resultats ont montre que les malades mentaux y sont systematiquement enchaines; n'absorbant aucune medication et que les traitements consistent en des prieres d'exorcisme. Cette modalite de prise en charge des 31 malades que les auteurs y ont rencontres semble leur donner satisfaction ainsi qu'a leur famille. Les auteurs ont; du fait de l'importance de la frequentation de ces centres qui est la preuve de leur acceptabilite; compare les techniques de soins a ceux d'autres pays africains ou l'impact est tout aussi positivement apprecie par les populations

Patient compliance with tuberculosis treatment in Ghana: Factors influencing adherence to therapy in a rural service programme

Data from two questionnaires held in 1985 and 1987 among 68 and 49 PTB patients respectively; revealed that many patients visited healing churches but few admitted having consulted traditional healers; that financial expenses for transport outweighed hospital charges; that lower educational levels were not associated with poorer compliance to therapy; that health education had improved significantly in two years time. It is concluded that intervention with liaison health workers and simple health education results in improved outcome in rural service tuberculosis programme