A survey study on the Mmotong community's knowledge and attitudes towards collaboration between traditional and western-trained mental health care practitioners

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.