Utilisation of traditional healers among older people living with HIV in South Africa: a WHO SAGE well-being of older people study
Abstract Background Within the African region, there are an estimated 8 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) in South Africa. Seeking healthcare services from traditional healers (TH) is one of the alternative and complementary approaches to HIV/AIDS treatment. Identifying the associated factors o...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-06-01
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| Series: | AIDS Research and Therapy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-023-00537-9 |
| _version_ | 1797795509159591936 |
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| author | Joshua Okyere Castro Ayebeng Bernard Afriyie Owusu Wonder Agbemavi Joseph Kwarteng Amoako Kwamena Sekyi Dickson |
| author_facet | Joshua Okyere Castro Ayebeng Bernard Afriyie Owusu Wonder Agbemavi Joseph Kwarteng Amoako Kwamena Sekyi Dickson |
| author_sort | Joshua Okyere |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Within the African region, there are an estimated 8 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) in South Africa. Seeking healthcare services from traditional healers (TH) is one of the alternative and complementary approaches to HIV/AIDS treatment. Identifying the associated factors of TH utilisation among older PLHIV is crucial in developing healthcare interventions that cater to the unique needs of this vulnerable group. This study investigated the factors associated with TH utilisation among older PLHIV. Methods We studied 516 older PLHIV using data from the WHO SAGE Well-Being of Older People Study (2011–2013). Chi-square, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were computed in STATA Version 14. The results were presented with both crude and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and at 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Of the 516 participants, 15.89% utilised TH. The major reason for TH utilisation among older PLHIV was the perception of receiving better healthcare services from TH (51.2%) and the flexibility to pay with goods instead of money (14.6%). The factors associated with TH utilisation were age [AOR = 0.05; CI 0.01, 0.37], being hypertensive [AOR = 2.07; CI 1.04, 4.11], and having more than four servings of fruits [AOR = 10.64; CI 2.95, 38.34]. TH utilisation was significantly lower among those who visited the clinic once or twice [AOR = 0.17; CI 0.05, 0.63], three to six times [AOR = 0.16; CI 0.05, 0.56], and more than 6 times [AOR = 0.09; CI 0.03, 0.34] compared to those who had no clinic visits. Conclusion In conclusion, a low proportion of TH utilisation was reported among older PLHIV in South Africa. TH utilisation is associated with age, hypertension status, frequency of clinic visits and fruit servings consumed. Our study suggests that being hypertensive was a motivating factor for older PLHIV to utilise TH. Therefore, it is imperative for the South African health department to integrate the services of TH into the mainstream health system to manage non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension, among older PLHIV. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T03:19:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e8258f37d64424ca0c815ddbb205d4c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1742-6405 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T03:19:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AIDS Research and Therapy |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e8258f37d64424ca0c815ddbb205d4c2023-06-25T11:29:46ZengBMCAIDS Research and Therapy1742-64052023-06-0120111010.1186/s12981-023-00537-9Utilisation of traditional healers among older people living with HIV in South Africa: a WHO SAGE well-being of older people studyJoshua Okyere0Castro Ayebeng1Bernard Afriyie Owusu2Wonder Agbemavi3Joseph Kwarteng Amoako4Kwamena Sekyi Dickson5Department of Population and Health, University of Cape CoastDepartment of Population and Health, University of Cape CoastDepartment of Population and Health, University of Cape CoastSchool of Demography, Australian National UniversityDepartment of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape CoastDepartment of Population and Health, University of Cape CoastAbstract Background Within the African region, there are an estimated 8 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) in South Africa. Seeking healthcare services from traditional healers (TH) is one of the alternative and complementary approaches to HIV/AIDS treatment. Identifying the associated factors of TH utilisation among older PLHIV is crucial in developing healthcare interventions that cater to the unique needs of this vulnerable group. This study investigated the factors associated with TH utilisation among older PLHIV. Methods We studied 516 older PLHIV using data from the WHO SAGE Well-Being of Older People Study (2011–2013). Chi-square, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were computed in STATA Version 14. The results were presented with both crude and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and at 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Of the 516 participants, 15.89% utilised TH. The major reason for TH utilisation among older PLHIV was the perception of receiving better healthcare services from TH (51.2%) and the flexibility to pay with goods instead of money (14.6%). The factors associated with TH utilisation were age [AOR = 0.05; CI 0.01, 0.37], being hypertensive [AOR = 2.07; CI 1.04, 4.11], and having more than four servings of fruits [AOR = 10.64; CI 2.95, 38.34]. TH utilisation was significantly lower among those who visited the clinic once or twice [AOR = 0.17; CI 0.05, 0.63], three to six times [AOR = 0.16; CI 0.05, 0.56], and more than 6 times [AOR = 0.09; CI 0.03, 0.34] compared to those who had no clinic visits. Conclusion In conclusion, a low proportion of TH utilisation was reported among older PLHIV in South Africa. TH utilisation is associated with age, hypertension status, frequency of clinic visits and fruit servings consumed. Our study suggests that being hypertensive was a motivating factor for older PLHIV to utilise TH. Therefore, it is imperative for the South African health department to integrate the services of TH into the mainstream health system to manage non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension, among older PLHIV.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-023-00537-9HIVUtilisationOlder peopleTraditional healersHealth service research |
| spellingShingle | Joshua Okyere Castro Ayebeng Bernard Afriyie Owusu Wonder Agbemavi Joseph Kwarteng Amoako Kwamena Sekyi Dickson Utilisation of traditional healers among older people living with HIV in South Africa: a WHO SAGE well-being of older people study AIDS Research and Therapy HIV Utilisation Older people Traditional healers Health service research |
| title | Utilisation of traditional healers among older people living with HIV in South Africa: a WHO SAGE well-being of older people study |
| title_full | Utilisation of traditional healers among older people living with HIV in South Africa: a WHO SAGE well-being of older people study |
| title_fullStr | Utilisation of traditional healers among older people living with HIV in South Africa: a WHO SAGE well-being of older people study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utilisation of traditional healers among older people living with HIV in South Africa: a WHO SAGE well-being of older people study |
| title_short | Utilisation of traditional healers among older people living with HIV in South Africa: a WHO SAGE well-being of older people study |
| title_sort | utilisation of traditional healers among older people living with hiv in south africa a who sage well being of older people study |
| topic | HIV Utilisation Older people Traditional healers Health service research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-023-00537-9 |
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