Revista de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Educação em Saúde

Mainstreaming Traditional Counselling, Traditional Medicines and Developing a Multi-Cultural Approach in Epilepsy Management: A Review of Integrated Literature

Abstract

Ngonidzashe Mutanana, Maria Tsvere and Manase Kudzai Chiweshe

The main objective of this paper was to analyse indigenous technologies that can be developed for sustainable management of epilepsy in African countries. The authors reviewed literature on mainstreaming traditional counselling in epilepsy management, traditional medicines in epilepsy management and developing a multi-cultural approach in epilepsy management. From the discussions, the authors concluded that cultural competence is dynamic, an ongoing developmental process which require a long-term commitment that is achieved over time. Traditional herbs are very useful and indispensable in the struggle for seizure management and future Anti-Epilepsy Drugs development. Finally, the authors concluded that the role of traditional healers in epilepsy management should not be discredited because in many instances the person suffering from epilepsy tends to obtain a degree of secondary benefit in the way of reassurance and emotional support from this form of intervention. To this end, the authors recommended non-Western practitioners to strive in constructing their indigenous practices with a sufficiently high degree of indigenousness and then be satisfied that they are less perfect than western practices but still useful in psychology. Medical educators also need teaching, learning approaches and philosophies that enable health attributions, practices and beliefs of patients. The majority of people with epilepsy consult traditional healers, thus a non-competitive relationship between modern practices and indigenous must be encouraged.