| Is there a role for traditional medicine in basic health services in Africa? A plea for a community perspective. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 9315049 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Traditional medicine in Africa is contrasted with biomedicine. Most traditional medical theories have a social and religious character and emphasize prevention and holistic features. Traditional medical practices are usually characterized by the healer's personal involvement, by secrecy and a reward system. Biomedical theory and practice show an almost opposite picture: asocial, irreligious, curative and organ-directed; professional detachment, public knowledge and-until recently-'free of charge'. It is suggested that local communities do not expect that basic health care will improve when traditional healers become integrated into the service. They ask instead for improvement of basic health care itself: more services with better access, more dedication and respect from doctors and nurses, more medicines and personnel. Fieldwork needs to be done at the community level to arrive at a better understanding and assessment of the community's opinion concerning a possible role of traditional medicine in basic health care. |
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Authors:
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S van der Geest |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH Volume: 2 ISSN: 1360-2276 ISO Abbreviation: Trop. Med. Int. Health Publication Date: 1997 Sep |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1997-10-23 Completed Date: 1997-10-23 Revised Date: 2006-11-07 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9610576 Medline TA: Trop Med Int Health Country: ENGLAND |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 903-11 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Medical Anthropology Unit, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Community Networks Cooperative Behavior Delivery of Health Care / methods* Health Education Humans Medicine Medicine, African Traditional* |
| Comments/Corrections | |
Comment In:
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J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Aug 22;100(1-2):3-4
[PMID:
15996843
]
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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