ArticleJournal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)2014
Symptomatic HIV-positive persons in rural Mozambique who first consult a traditional healer have delays in HIV testing: a cross-sectional study.
Article in Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999), 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 37 papers.
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Who cites it
37 citing papers in PubMed.
- How informal healthcare providers improve uptake of HIV testing: qualitative results from a randomized controlled trial.AIDS (London, England) · 2022Trial
- Traditional healer-delivered point-of-care HIV testing versus referral to clinical facilities for adults of unknown serostatus in rural Uganda: a mixed-methods, cluster-randomised trial.The Lancet. Global health · 2021Trial
- The Impact of Immediate Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy on Patients' Healthcare Expenditures: A Stepped-Wedge Randomized Trial in Eswatini.AIDS and behavior · 2021Trial
- Increasing detection of individuals with tuberculosis through engagement of informal health care providers in Northeastern Nigeria.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Can Traditional Health Practitioners Deliver HIV Counseling and Testing Services? A Pilot Study in Rural South Africa.Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) · 2025Article
- Traditional Health Practitioners-Initiated HIV Testing and Counselling: Perspectives from Health Care Workers, Healers and Clients in Rural South Africa.AIDS and behavior · 2025Article
- Barriers to orthodox medical care of prostate cancer in Ghana.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- A individually randomized controlled trial comparing Healer-led vs. clinician- led training to improve personal protective equipment use among traditional healers in South Africa.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
- Adaption and pilot testing of a lay HIV supporter program for traditional healers: a mixed methods study in rural Uganda.Implementation science communications · 2023Article
- Tuberculosis management and referral practices among traditional medicine practitioners in Lagos, Nigeria.Journal of public health in Africa · 2023Article
- Self-reported medication adherence instruments and their applicability in low-middle income countries: a scoping review.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
- Understanding the role of traditional healers in the HIV care cascade: Findings from a qualitative study among stakeholders in Mwanza, Tanzania.PLOS global public health · 2022Article
- Commentary: Chinese Herbal Medicine Usage Reduces Overall Mortality in HIV-Infected Patients With Osteoporosis or Fractures.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2022Article
- We love orthodox medicine but still use our 'Elewe omo': Utilization of traditional healers among women in an urban community in Nigeria.Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2022Article
- Traditional healers as client advocates in the HIV-endemic region of Maputo, Mozambique: results from a qualitative study.SAHARA J : journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance · 2021Article
- Throwing the bones to diagnose HIV: Views of rural South African traditional healers on undertaking HIV counselling and testing.AIDS care · 2021Article
- Factors associated with HIV testing among traditional healers and their clients in rural Uganda: Results from a cross-sectional study.International journal of STD & AIDS · 2021Article
- Psychological ailments and their treatment protocols: a case study of Swati traditional healers in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.African health sciences · 2021Article
- Shortening "the Road" to Improve Engagement with HIV Testing Resources: A Qualitative Study Among Stakeholders in Rural Uganda.AIDS patient care and STDs · 2021Article
- Healer-led vs. clinician-led training to improve personal protective equipment use among traditional healers in South Africa: a randomized controlled trial protocol.Global health action · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveDelays in HIV diagnosis and initiation of antiretroviral therapy are common even among symptomatic individuals in Africa. We hypothesized that antiretroviral therapy delays might be more common if traditional healers (THs) were the first practitioners consulted.
designCross-sectional study.
methodsWe interviewed 530 newly diagnosed HIV-infected adults (≥18 years of age) who were clinically symptomatic at the time of HIV testing in 2 rural districts in Zambézia Province, Mozambique. We ascertained their previous health care seeking behavior, duration of their symptoms, CD4 cell counts at the time of entry into care, and treatment provided by TH(s).
resultsOf 517 patients (97.5%) with complete histories, 62% sought care from a healer before presenting to the local health facility. The median time to first health facility visit from first relevant symptom was 2 months [interquartile range (IQR): 1-4.5] for persons who had not visited a healer, 3 months (IQR: 2-6) for persons visiting 1 healer, and 9 months (IQR: 5-12) for persons visiting >1 healer (P < 0.001). Healers diagnosed 56% of patients with a social or ancestral curse and treated 66% with subcutaneous herbal remedies. A nonsignificant trend toward lower CD4 cells for persons who had seen multiple healers was noted.
conclusionsSeeking initial care from healers was associated with delays in HIV testing among symptomatic HIV-seropositive persons. We had no CD4 evidence that sicker patients bypass THs, a potential inferential bias. Engaging THs in a therapeutic alliance may facilitate the earlier diagnosis of HIV/AIDS.
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