The Influence of Culture on the Cause, Diagnosis and Treatment of Serious Mental Illness (Ufufunyana): Perspectives of Traditional Health Practitioners in the Harry Gwala District, KwaZulu-Natal.

Mental illness is culturally understood as caused by witchcraft or an ancestral calling, according to traditional health practitioners in the Harry Gwala District Municipality. Diagnosis relies on spiritual intervention, including divination through consulting ancestors, examining family background, burning incense, and examining the patient. Common symptoms observed are aggression, hallucination, and unresponsiveness. Treatment involves medicinal concoctions and cultural rituals that address ancestral and spiritual influences, with the treatment duration guided by ancestors. Cultural beliefs and ancestors shape most aspects of mental illness, from perceived cause through diagnosis to treatment.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Cultural beliefs influence the perceived cause, methods of diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. A qualitative study was conducted among traditional health practitioners (THPs) in the Harry Gwala District Municipality to further explore this influence. Purposive sampling assisted in the recruitment of 31 participants (9 males and 22 females). The four key themes this study investigated in relation to mental illness included its causes, methods of diagnosis, common symptoms observed and treatment approaches used by THPs, and the system of patient management. Culturally, mental illness was reported to be caused by witchcraft and an ancestral calling in this study. Mental illness was predominantly diagnosed by spiritual intervention which included divination through consultation with the ancestors, familial background, burning of incense which can also be part of communicating with the ancestors and through examining the patient. The common symptoms included aggression, hallucination and unresponsiveness. Prevalent modes of treatment included the use of a medicinal concoction and performing cultural rituals where ancestors and other spirits were assumed influential. The duration of the treatment process was dependent on guidance from the ancestors. Most causal aspects of mental illness from diagnosis to treatment seemed to be influenced by cultural beliefs and ancestors.