Contents

• Health and Veterinary Sciences domain editorial board at AOSIS
• Abbreviations and acronyms, figures and tables appearing in the text and notes
• Glossary
• Notes on contributors
• Introduction
  Ramadimetja S. Mogale.
  • Disclaimer
• Chapter 1. Communication discordance among health care professionals and indigenous patients
  Seepaneng S. Moloko-Phiri, Nombulelo V. Sepeng, and Jeanette M. Sebaeng.
  • Effective communication versus communication discordance
  • The use of South African official languages
  • The importance of indigenous communication in the health care system
  • Types of communication that may lead to discordance
  • Importance of non-verbal communication by health care professionals
  • The use of proverbs, idiomatic expressions and riddles as a means of communication discordance between patients and health care professionals
  • Social norms and values to be displayed when communicating with indigenous patients
  • The importance of effective communication between health care professionals and indigenous patients
  • Recommendations
  • Conclusion
  • Glossary
• Chapter 2. Indigenous practices in health care promotion and diseases prevention
  Thifhelimbilu I. Ramavhoya and Tintswalo V. Nesengani.
  • Health care through indigenous practices
  • The role of traditional health care practitioners in health care promotion and disease prevention
  • The role of indigenous practices in health care promotion and diseases prevention
  • Role of traditional/indigenous practices in rehabilitation
  • Referral system in traditional practices
  • Challenges faced by traditional health care practitioners in primary health care settings
  • Recommendations
  • Conclusion
  • Glossary
• Chapter 3. Wearing of artefacts for preventive and promotive care: An African indigenous practice of go thekga during infancy
  Masetopana E. Ramaube, Moselene A.R. du Plessis, and Ramadimetja S. Mogale.
  • Health care and cultural heritage
  • Emic-etic knowledge of health care professionals on African indigenous health care-promotion rituals
  • Types of artefacts worn in infancy
  • Purposes for wearing artefact(s) during infancy as an African indigenous practice
  • The healers who provide the artefact(s)
  • Discussion
  • Implications of the study
  • Conclusion
  • Glossary
• Chapter 4. Rite of passage: An African indigenous knowledge perspective
  Rachel T. Lebese, Tebogo M. Mothiba, Mercy T. Mulaudzi, Ntsieni S. Mashau, and Lufuno Makhado.
  • Rituals and symbols
  • Definition of a rite of passage from an African perspective
  • Stages of rites of passage
  • The role of the rite of passage
  • Characteristics of rites of passage
  • Rite of passage practices in different African cultures
  • African indigenous rite of passage for young females
  • African indigenous rite of passage and death
  • Impact of adolescent initiation rituals
  • Recommendations
  • Conclusion
  • Glossary
• Chapter 5. Child spacing and prevention of pregnancy among African indigenous people
  Rachel T. Lebese, Tebogo M. Mothiba, Mercy T. Mulaudzi, Ntsieni S. Mashau, and Lufuno Makhado.
  • Pregnancy
  • Indigenous approaches and practices of child spacing
  • Infertility
  • Recommendations
  • Conclusion
  • Glossary
• Chapter 6. African indigenous beliefs and practices during pregnancy, birth and after birth
  Maurine R. Musie, Rafiat A. Anokwuru, Roinah N. Ngunyulu, and Sanele Lukhele.
  • Indigenous midwifery care
  • Understanding the value of pregnancy in Africa
  • Pregnancy age calculation and sex determination
  • The use of herbs and indigenous medicines in pregnancy
  • Culture and expected behaviours during the antenatal period
  • Indigenous practices during labour
  • Preparation of ukubeletha (labour)
  • Herbal medicine to prepare for labour
  • Progress of labour (isigaba sokuqala sokubeletha)
  • Practices to manage abnormal labour
  • Indigenous after-birth practices known as vutswedyani in Xitsonga
  • Indigenous practices and health care promotion
  • Recommendations
  • Conclusion
  • Glossary
• Chapter 7. Provision of neonatal care: An African indigenous perspective
  Khathutshelo G. Simane-Netshisaulu, Rachel T. Lebese, and Patience M. Tulelo.
  • Neonatal health
  • Confinement of the mother and the neonate
  • Feeding practices
  • Initial infant bath
  • Comforting a crying infant
  • Protective measures
  • Treatment modalities during illnesses
  • Recommendations
  • Conclusion
  • Glossary
• Chapter 8. Indigenous knowledge, beliefs, practices and treatments of menopause among females of African descent
  Melitah M. Rasweswe and Fhumulani M. Mulaudzi.
  • Menopause
  • Indigenous understanding of menopause
  • Taboos, idiomatic expressions, fables, folktales and proverbs used to prevent complications during menopause
  • Rites and ceremonies
  • Attitudes towards menopause
  • Positive attitudes
  • Lifestyle beliefs and practices in reducing and managing symptoms of menopause
  • Indigenous treatment of menopause
  • Recommendations
  • Conclusion
  • Glossary
• Chapter 9. Sexually transmitted infections: An indigenous African context
  Fhumulani M. Mulaudzi and Melitah M. Rasweswe.
  • Transmission of sexually transmitted infections
  • Types of sexually transmitted infections
  • Preventive and promotive measures
  • Treatment of sexually transmitted infections
  • Recommendations
  • Conclusion
  • Glossary
• Chapter 10. Indigenous health care practices in the treatment of mental illness in South Africa
  Miriam Moagi, Mokgobola Thobakgale, and Madimetja Magoro.
  • Treatment of mental illness
  • African perspective of mental illness
  • The types of indigenous mental health care in Africa
  • Traditional health care practitioners’ diagnosis of mental illness
  • Indigenous mental illness treatment methods
  • Implications for health care professionals
  • Recommendations
  • Conclusion
  • Glossary
• Chapter 11. Same-sex intimate relationships and marriages among African indigenous people
  Jeanette M. Sebaeng, Seepaneng S. Moloko-Phiri, Ramadimetja S. Mogale, and Azwihangwisi H. Mavhandu-Mudzusi.
  • Sexuality and sex-related matters
  • Same-sex marriages between females in Africa
  • Same-sex intimacy practices between males
  • Spiritually driven same-sex relationships
  • Culturally driven same-sex relationships
  • Attitudes of Africans towards same-sex relationship practices and marriages
  • Laws against homosexuality
  • Discrimination in the health care system
  • Recommendations
  • Conclusion
  • Glossary
• Chapter 12. The role of patriarchy and its influences on domestic violence against females and children in Africa: An indigenous perspective
  Nombulelo V. Sepeng, Seepaneng S. Moloko-Phiri, and Fhumulani M. Mulaudzi.
  • Patriarchy and violence
  • The role of patriarchy and its influences on domestic violence against females and children
  • Recommendations
  • Conclusion
  • Glossary
• Chapter 13. Nutritious edible indigenous vegetables
  Lindelani F. Mushaphi, Madimetja Magoro, and Phumudzo Tshiambara.
  • Nutrition
  • Importance of indigenous vegetables
  • Types of indigenous vegetables
  • Preparation, preservation and storage of indigenous vegetables
  • Implications of nutritious indigenous vegetables
  • Conclusion
  • Glossary
• Chapter 14. Conclusion: General conclusion
  Fhumulani M. Mulaudzi and Raikane J. Seretlo.
  • Introduction
  • Implications to the health care professionals
  • Holistic nature of indigenous health care
  • Summary
• References

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Published in 2022

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ISBN: 978-1-77995-257-8 (print)

ISBN: 978-1-77995-258-5 (epub)

ISBN: 978-1-77995-259-2 (pdf)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/aosis.2022.BK296

How to cite this work: Mulaudzi, FM & Lebese, RT (eds.) 2022, Working with indigenous knowledge: Strategies for health professionals, AOSIS Books, Cape Town.

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