Abstract:
Globally, mental disorders are a growing public health problem. The World Health
Organisation has urged member states to prioritise efforts to address the growing
pandemic of mental illness. One strategy identified by WHO is the promotion of the
use of traditional medicines. Similarly, a collaboration between Western and
Traditional health care practitioners has been identified as another strategy that could
help bridge the gap of shortages of mental health care providers and the cost of
professional mental health care services. The present study investigated the Mmotong
community’s knowledge of mental disorders and attitudes towards collaboration
between Traditional healers and Western-trained practitioners in the treatment of
mental disorders. A quantitative study was conducted, with a sample of 200
participants (Female = 131; Male = 69; in the age range of 18 years and older).
Participants were selected using convenience sampling. Data was collected using a
questionnaire and analysed using the SPSS to draw out the descriptive statistics.
A majority (59%) of participants were found to possess knowledge of mental disorders.
Attitudinally, most participants favoured Western-oriented mental health care services
in terms of effectiveness. Despite this finding, a majority (69%) endorsed the need for
collaboration between the two healthcare systems. A gender analysis revealed that
more females (71.8%) than males (63.8%) favoured collaboration. While analysed by
age, those 18-37 years (63.5%), 38-57 years (75.5%) and over the age of 58 years
(75.5%) favoured the collaboration respectively. The present study findings show that
in this community, the majority of members possess knowledge of mental illness. The
community also favours the collaboration between traditional and medically oriented
health care providers in mental health care. The study is concluded by making
recommendations to the government, Traditional healers, and Western-oriented
health practitioners to work towards the harnessing of collaboration of the two
healthcare systems.
