Indigenous practises of mothers with children admitted at the Polokwane/Mankweng Hospital Complex in the Limpopo Province

Abstract

Indigenous knowledge (IK) originated from a particular community within a broader cultural tradition. It is stated that IK is socially transmitted shared knowledge, beliefs, and/or practices that vary systematically across different cultural groups. It is further indicated that IK is a critical determinant of human behaviour and health, and the intergenerational mother in the society. Indigenous forms of communication and organisation are seen as important to family and societal decision-making processes with regard to health related issues like care given to children from birth onwards and curing of childhood illness. The operational plan for Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Care, Management and Treatment (CCMT) South Africa points out that some South African citizens prefer to consult traditional health practitioners (THPs) on a regular basis for their health problems. The study conducted by Peltzer, Phaswana-Mafuya and Treger (2009) points out that THPs use indigenous practices to prevent and heal childhood illnesses. The aim of the study: To determine indigenous practices by mothers of children admitted in the paediatric unit of a Polokwane/Mankweng hospital complex in the Limpopo Province. The objectives of this study: To explore and describe the indigenous practices of mothers of children admitted in a paediatric unit of a Polokwane/Mankweng hospital complex, Limpopo Province, and to recommend guiding principles based on the study findings for healthcare professionals on the strategies that can be used to assist mothers of children admitted in a paediatric unit of a Polokwane/Mankweng hospital complex of the Limpopo Province. Design and Method: A qualitative, descriptive and explorative research design was conducted for the participants to describe the indigenous practices in relation to managing and treating childhood illnesses. Data were collected by means of unstructured one-on-one interviews at the Mankweng/ Polokwane hospital complex with mothers of children admitted at the paediatric unit. Criteria for trustworthiness were observed as stipulated in Babbie and Mouton (2009). Ethical standards by DENOSA (1998) were adhered to in order to ensure the quality of the study.

Findings: Three themes with sub-themes emerged from the data analysis, using Tech’s open coding approach (Cresswell 2009:186), i.e. analogous indigenous practices in curing childhood illnesses, believes related to the indigenous healing process and THP treating of HIV infected children. It is recommended that healthcare providers need to have understanding of indigenous belief systems in relation to healthcare, and work towards incorporating this understanding into their service delivery to recognise and to embark upon the journey of working with THPs.