The Role of Religious and Traditional Beliefs on Botswana Medical Practitioners’ Health Provision Behaviours Some Highlights from a Recent Study
Main Article Content
Keywords
Religious Beliefs, Health Care Practitioners’ Beliefs, Health Provision Behaviours, Health, Impact
Abstract
Religious and traditional belief systems have a bearing on health care provision and vice versa. Faith healing is a crucial component of health care provision. Holistic care should be intertwined within both medical practice and religious and traditional belief systems in order to attain optimal patient care. Using qualitative methodology, this study explores the role of religious and traditional beliefs on medical practitioners’ health provision behaviours. Medical professionals who informed the health provision behaviour were purposively sampled from medical facilities. The results from the study emphasize that a peoples’ religious belief system is a crucial component of delivery of health care. The religious beliefs of the medical practitioner play an important role in optimising patient care. The healing power of science needs to be linked to the dynamics of curing and caring that is derived from religious and traditional contexts. Further research related to religionmedicine interrelationships is recommended.
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References
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Vanderpool, Harold Y. 1977. Is religion therapeutically significant? Journal of Religion and Health 16 (4):255-259.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01533299
Vanderpool, Harold Y, and Jeffrey S Levin. 1990. Religion and medicine: how are they related? Journal of Religion and Health 29 (1):9-20.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987090
Williams, David R, and Michelle J Sternthal. 2007. Spirituality, religion and health: evidence and research directions.https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01040.x
Arousell, Jonna, and Aje Carlbom. 2016. Culture and religious beliefs in relation to reproductive health. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology 32:77-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2015.08.011
Atanga, Pascal N, Harrison T Ndetan, Eric A Achidi, Henry D Meriki, Michael Hoelscher, and Arne Kroidl. 2017. Retention in care and reasons for discontinuation of lifelong antiretroviral therapy in a cohort of Cameroonian pregnant and breastfeeding HIVpositive women initiating 'Option B+'in the South West Region. Tropical Medicine & International Health 22 (2):161-170. https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.12816
Baldacchino, Donia. 2015. Spiritual care education of health care professionals. Religions 6 (2):594-613. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel6020594
Basharat, Sarah, and Babar Tasneem Shaikh. 2017. Polio immunization in Pakistan: ethical issues and challenges. Public health reviews 38 (1):6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40985-017-0049-4
Berlin, Elois Ann, and William C Fowkes Jr. 1983. A teaching framework for cross-cultural health care-application in family practice. Western Journal of Medicine 139 (6):934.
Chadwick, R.J, and BA Lown. 2016. What do we need to do to sustain compassionate medical care? Medicine 44 (10):583-585.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mpmed.2016.07.003
De la Porte, Andre. 2016. Spirituality and healthcare: Towards holistic peoplecentred healthcare in South Africa. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 72 (4):1-9. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v72i4.3127
Dillard, V, J Moss, N Padgett, and A.B Kennedy. 2021. Attitudes, Beliefs and Behaviours of Religiocity, Spirituality and Cultural Competence in the medical profession: A Cross- Sectional Survey Study. PLOS ONE 16 (6). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252750
Freeman, Emily, and Ernestina Coast. 2019. Conscientious objection to abortion: Zambian healthcare practitioners' beliefs and practices. Social Science & Medicine 221:106-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.12.018
Hirono, Tatsushi, and Michelle Emery Blake. 2017. The role of religious leaders in the restoration of hope following natural disasters. Sage open 7 (2):2158244017707003. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244017707003
Joseph, Osafo. 2016. Seeking Paths for Collaboration between Religious Leaders and Mental Health Professionals in Ghana. Pastoral Psychology 65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-016-0703-7
Kahissay, Mesfin H, Teferi G Fenta, and Heather Boon. 2017. Beliefs and perception of ill-health causation: a socio-cultural qualitative study in rural North-Eastern Ethiopia. BMC public health 17 (1):124. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4052-y
Lindholm, Kristin. 2017. Handling Stereotypes of Religious Professionals: Strategies Hospice Chaplains Use When Interacting with Patients and Families. Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling 71 (4):284-290. https://doi.org/10.1177/1542305017744493
Louw, Daniel J. 2008. Space and place in the healing of life: towards a theology of affirmation in pastoral care and counselling. Verbum et Ecclesia 29 (2):426-445. https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v29i2.23
Malik, Abida, Hafsah Qureshi, Humayra Abdul-Razakq, Zahra Yaqoob, Fatima Zahra Javaid, Faatima Esmail, Emma Wiley, and Asam Latif. 2019. 'I decided not to go into surgery due to dress code': a cross-sectional study within the UK investigating experiences of female Muslim medical health professionals on bare below the elbows (BBE) policy and wearing headscarves (hijabs) in theatre. BMJ open 9 (3):e019954.https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019954
Olivier, J., C. Tsimpo, R. Gemignani, M. Shojo, H. Coulombe, F. Dimmock, M. C. Nguyen, H. Hines, E. J. Mills, J. L. Dieleman, A. Haakenstad, and Q. Wodon. 2015. Understanding the roles of faith-based health-care providers in Africa: review of the evidence with a focus on magnitude, reach, cost, and satisfaction. Lancet 386 (10005):1765- 75. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60251-3
Plunkett, Robyn, Beverly Leipert, Joanne K Olson, and Susan L Ray. 2014. Understanding women's health promotion and the rural church. Qualitative health research 24 (12):1721- 1731. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732314549025
Rumun, Akpenpuun Joyce. 2014a. Influence of Religious Beliefs on Health Care Practice International Journal of Education and Research 2 (4):46-47. Rumun, Akpenpuun Joyce. 2014b. Influence of religious beliefs on healthcare practice. International Journal of Education and Research 2 (4):37-47.
Togarasei, Mmolai & Kealotswe. 2016. 'Quinine', 'Ditaola' and the 'bible':Investigating Batswana Health Seeking Practices. Journal for the Study of Religion 29 (2):95 - 117.
Vanderpool, Harold Y. 1977. Is religion therapeutically significant? Journal of Religion and Health 16 (4):255-259.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01533299
Vanderpool, Harold Y, and Jeffrey S Levin. 1990. Religion and medicine: how are they related? Journal of Religion and Health 29 (1):9-20.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987090
Williams, David R, and Michelle J Sternthal. 2007. Spirituality, religion and health: evidence and research directions.https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01040.x
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Sep 30, 2024
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The Role of Religious and Traditional Beliefs on Botswana Medical Practitioners’ Health Provision Behaviours: Some Highlights from a Recent Study. (2024). Utambuzi: Journal for the Study of the Religions of Africa and Its Diaspora, 6(1), 26-39. https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/ujsrad/article/view/3424
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The Role of Religious and Traditional Beliefs on Botswana Medical Practitioners’ Health Provision Behaviours: Some Highlights from a Recent Study. (2024). Utambuzi: Journal for the Study of the Religions of Africa and Its Diaspora, 6(1), 26-39. https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/ujsrad/article/view/3424