The Practices of Apostolic Faith Healers in Mental Health Care in Zimbabwe

This study aimed to understand and interpret faith healers' explanations of the aetiology and treatment of diseases and to canvass their views regarding collaboration between Western trained health care professionals and faith healers. Fifteen female and six male faith healers from Apostolic churches in Marondera (Zimbabwe) were selected and interviewed (mean age = 42.38 years; age range = 20–69 years). All the faith healers interviewed had been practising from two to fifty years. Content analysis of the data indicated that faith healers use a variety of procedures like prayer, holy water, counselling and sacred stones during their healing sessions. Common ailments brought to the faith healers included mental disorders, infertility, substance abuse, sleep disorders, childhood problems and physical problems. Witchcraft and avenging spirits were cited as the most common causes for illness. Closer cooperation between Western trained health practitioners and traditional (faith) healers is needed in the treatment of both physical and mental illnesses.     

Influences on help-seeking pathways among people with chronic illness and disease in a rural South African community

The study sought to explore influences on help-seeking pathways followed by patients with chronic illness and disease (CID) in a rural community of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. The sample consisted of ten people with CID (female = 6; age range 42 to 96 years; sugar diabetes = 50%, and high blood pressure = 30%). The participants responded to semi-structured interviews pertaining to the influences on their choices for help-seeking pathways. The data were analysed applying Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Prevailing influences on help-seeking pathways with CID included presumed cause of the illness, diagnosis agent and family process, nature of preferred treatment modality, and openness to alternative and complementary medicine.     

Cancer Survivorship: Religion in Meaning Making and Coping Among a Group of Black Prostate Cancer Patients in South Africa

Journal of Religion and Health - The purpose of the study was to explore the role of religion in meaning making and coping among a group of black patients receiving some form of prostate cancer...     

Cultural Embeddedness of Health,Illness and Healing: Prospects for Integrating Indigenous and Western Healing Practices

Culture influences conceptualizations about illness, health and healthcare. In this article we argue that Western-oriented health care models have limited success when applied to health conditions of people of non-Western cultures and contend that culture is an important factor in health, illness and healing. We present two cultural modes of illness and healing to illustrate that many health conditions are meaningful and can be effectively managed with consideration of the cultural contexts of the communities concerned. We illustrate, by case examples, how these cultural conceptualisations influence the treatment of illness in three different cultural settings. In addition, we identify some of the key challenges to integrating traditional healing into counselling and psychotherapy. Integration of different cultural healthcare models is a best practice in comprehensive context sensitive delivery of healthcare.     

A Survey of the Views of College Students on Academic Dishonesty

The purpose of the study was to examine students' views on dishonest academic behaviours. First year students from Mkoba Teachers' College in Zimbabwe's city of Gweru (n = 152) responded to an open-ended questionnaire that was used to collect data. Knowing examination questions or assignment answers in advance was rated as the worst dishonest academic behaviour engaged in at the college. Lack of preparation was put forward as the main reason why some students engage in academic cheating. Popular proposals for dealing with academic dishonesty included; encouraging students and lecturers to maintain their integrity, severely punishing perpetrators and enforcing security of examination materials. The findings have implications on how responsible authorities communicate appropriate norms to students.     

Relationship complexities among women with obstetric fistula in Zimbabwe: an exploratory study

This study sought to determine how obstetric fistula affects women's intimate partner relationships or other social ties. A purposive sampling of eleven women (age range 17 to 31) with obstetric fistula admitted to two hospitals in Zimbabwe was done. In-depth interviews using unstructured interview guides were used to collect data on how the women`s condition impacted the way they related to other people and vice versa. Data were grouped into themes and analysed using content analysis and languishing and flourishing experiences were reported by the participants. Most of the study participants indicated that the condition strained their relationship with their husbands since they could not fulfil their conjugal rights. Participants also reported stigma from their close associates in the community, including extended family. Other participants reported to experience spiritual growth and strength from living with obstetric fistula. Support networks are important for women with obstetric fistula in a in a low resourced country like Zimbabwe.     

Responsible Teenage Fatherhood in a South African Historically Disadvantaged Community

The study analysed the relationships between teacher ratings and standardised test scores in Reading and Mathematics for students receiving learning support for learning difficulties (n = 60, mean age= 16.3). Teacher ratings were found to significantly predict pupils' performance in Reading. Students with extended learning support had significantly higher teacher attainment ratings in both Reading and Mathematics. Teacher judgment ratings combined with standardized test scores were reliable for assessing instructional effectiveness. Standardised tests were more reliable than teacher ratings in assessing academic attainment.