Indigenous Medicine and Biomedical Health Care in Fragile Settings: Insights from Burundi : WestminsterResearch

Publication dates
Title	Indigenous Medicine and Biomedical Health Care in Fragile Settings: Insights from Burundi
Type	Journal article
Authors	Falisse, J-B., Masino, S. and Ngenzebuhoro, R.
Abstract	This study contributes to the health policy debate on medical systems integration by describing and analysing the interactions between health care users, indigenous healers, and the country’s biomedical public health system, in the so far rarely documented case of post-conflict Burundi. We adopt a mixed-methods approach combining (1) data from an existing survey on access to health-care, with 6,690 individuals, and (2) original interviews and focus groups conducted in 2014 with 121 respondents, including indigenous healers, biomedical staff, and health-care users. The findings reveal pluralistic patterns of health-care seeking behaviour, which are not primarily based on economic convenience or level of education. Indigenous healers’ diagnosis is shown to revolve around the concept of ‘enemy’ and the need for protection against it. We suggest ways in which this category may intersect with the widespread experience of trauma following the civil conflict. Finally, we find that, while biomedical staff displays ambivalent attitudes towards healers, cross-referrals occasionally take place between healers and health centres. These findings are interpreted in light of the debate on health systems integration in Sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, we discuss policy options regarding healers’ accreditation, technical training, management of cross-referrals as well as of herb-drug interactions; and we emphasise healers’ psychological support role in helping communities deal with trauma. In this respect, we argue that the experience of conflict, and the experiences and conceptualizations of mental and physical illness, need to be taken into account when devising appropriate public or international health policy responses.
Keywords	Health care reform, traditional medicine, community care, post-conflict, developing countries, medical pluralism, health systems, mental health services
Journal	Health Policy and Planning
Journal citation	33 (4), pp. 483-493
ISSN	0268-1080
Year	2018
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Accepted author manuscript	Manuscript HPP_repository.pdf
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)	https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czy002
Web address (URL)	https://academic.oup.com/heapol/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/heapol/czy002/4857224?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Published	14 Feb 2018

Related outputs

COSCO and the privatisation of Piraeus port: A tale of three piers
Li, J., Jackson, K. and Masino, S. 2024. COSCO and the privatisation of Piraeus port: A tale of three piers. European Journal of Industrial Relations. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/09596801241292044

Experiences and implications of the first wave of the COVID-19 emergency in Italy: a social science perspective
Masino, S. and Enria, L. 2023. Experiences and implications of the first wave of the COVID-19 emergency in Italy: a social science perspective. International Journal of Health Policy and Management. 12 6871. https://doi.org/10.34172/ijhpm.2023.6871

Labour Standards in the Ghanaian Construction Sector: an investigation of the governance landscape
Masino, S., von Jacobi, Nadia and Akuffobea-Essilfie, Mavis 2023. Labour Standards in the Ghanaian Construction Sector: an investigation of the governance landscape. International Journal of Manpower. 44 (3), pp. 543-557. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijm-01-2022-0013

Social Considerations in the COVID19 Emergency in Italy
Masino, S. and Enria, L. 2020. Social Considerations in the COVID19 Emergency in Italy.

Improving Financial Inclusion through the Delivery of Cash Transfer Programmes: The Case of Mexico’s Progresa-Oportunidades-Prospera Programme
Masino, S. and Nino-Zarazua, M. 2020. Improving Financial Inclusion through the Delivery of Cash Transfer Programmes: The Case of Mexico’s Progresa-Oportunidades-Prospera Programme. Journal of Development Studies. 56 (1), pp. 151-168. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2018.1546845

Psychological and psychosocial interventions offered to forensic mental health inpatients: a systematic review
MacInnes, D. and Masino, S. 2019. Psychological and psychosocial interventions offered to forensic mental health inpatients: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 9 (3), pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024351

What works to improve the quality of student learning in developing countries?
Masino, S. and Niño-Zarazúa, M. 2016. What works to improve the quality of student learning in developing countries? International Journal of Educational Development. 48, pp. 53-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2015.11.012

Macroeconomic Volatility, Institutional Instability and the Incentive to Innovate
Masino, S. 2015. Macroeconomic Volatility, Institutional Instability and the Incentive to Innovate. Review of Development Economics. 19 (1), pp. 116-131. https://doi.org/10.1111/rode.12127

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/q4x54/indigenous-medicine-and-biomedical-health-care-in-fragile-settings-insights-from-burundi

Indigenous Medicine and Biomedical Health Care in Fragile Settings: Insights from Burundi

Related outputs

Share this

Usage statistics

Export as