ArticleActa neuropsychiatrica2026
The belief that certain illnesses can only be treated by traditional healers: a qualitative study exploring the 'traditional illness' Xifula in Limpopo, South Africa.
Article in Acta neuropsychiatrica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundIn Africa, bewitchment is described as a moral framework that helps individuals and societies make sense out of disease and misfortune. Numerous African belief systems attribute difficult-to-treat health problems to bewitchment, rather than a conventional medical diagnosis, especially if biomedical doctors are unable to resolve the condition. This study examines one such illness, known as
methodsUsing convenience sampling, 95 participants (≥18 years old) were interviewed to gauge their knowledge of the condition known as
findings
interpretationThis research highlights the importance of context-specific education about the diagnosis and treatment of common ailments, as beliefs about afflictions, their causes, and appropriate treatments suggest a need for tailored information. As biomedical and traditional healthcare currently exist as parallel, siloed structures of diagnosis and treatment in Africa, there should also be efforts to bridge the divide between the two.
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