PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: A better understanding of attitudes and beliefs held by traditional healers and utilizers of traditional medicine concerning mental health conditions in Liberia is important as Liberia seeks to improve its delivery of mental healthcare in the context of scarce resources and recovery from civil war.
METHODS: A qualitative research design was used to collect data from 24 Liberian traditional healers, and 11 utilizers of Liberian traditional medicine. Participants were queried about mental health problems in Liberia, treatments, and attitudes towards modern healthcare. Qualitative data were probed and aggregated using content analysis.
RESULTS: Mental health problems described by study participants included: Open Mole, African Science, Epilepsy, Depression and Mental Illness (trauma/substance use). Mental health problems were often associated with socioeconomic distress, and participants described their attitudes and beliefs concerning mental healthcare, traditional medicine, and modern healthcare.
CONCLUSIONS: Traditional medicine is an important part of mental healthcare in Africa. Mental illness, social factors, and healthcare access were important problems in Liberia. Mental health problems blended local cultural beliefs with Westernized nosology and social factors. Traditional healer\'s attitudes towards Western medicine reflected ambivalence. There is a desire for collaboration with \'modern\' health care providers, but this will require reciprocal trust-building.
METHODS: A qualitative research design was used to collect data from 24 Liberian traditional healers, and 11 utilizers of Liberian traditional medicine. Participants were queried about mental health problems in Liberia, treatments, and attitudes towards modern healthcare. Qualitative data were probed and aggregated using content analysis.
RESULTS: Mental health problems described by study participants included: Open Mole, African Science, Epilepsy, Depression and Mental Illness (trauma/substance use). Mental health problems were often associated with socioeconomic distress, and participants described their attitudes and beliefs concerning mental healthcare, traditional medicine, and modern healthcare.
CONCLUSIONS: Traditional medicine is an important part of mental healthcare in Africa. Mental illness, social factors, and healthcare access were important problems in Liberia. Mental health problems blended local cultural beliefs with Westernized nosology and social factors. Traditional healer\'s attitudes towards Western medicine reflected ambivalence. There is a desire for collaboration with \'modern\' health care providers, but this will require reciprocal trust-building.
摘要：
背景：在利比里亚，更好地了解传统治疗师和传统医学使用者对精神健康状况的态度和信念非常重要，因为利比里亚在资源匮乏和内战恢复的背景下寻求改善其精神保健服务。
方法：使用定性研究设计从24名利比里亚传统治疗师那里收集数据，和11个利比里亚传统医学的利用者。参与者被问及利比里亚的心理健康问题，治疗,以及对现代医疗保健的态度。使用内容分析对定性数据进行了调查和汇总。
结果：研究参与者描述的心理健康问题包括：OpenMole，非洲科学,癫痫,抑郁症和精神疾病（创伤/物质使用）。心理健康问题通常与社会经济困扰有关，参与者描述了他们对心理健康的态度和信念，传统医学,现代医疗保健。
结论：传统医学是非洲精神保健的重要组成部分。精神疾病,社会因素,和医疗保健是利比里亚的重要问题。心理健康问题融合了当地文化信仰与西化的新闻学和社会因素。传统治疗师对西医的态度反映了矛盾心理。希望与“现代”医疗保健提供者合作，但这需要建立互惠的信任。
方法：使用定性研究设计从24名利比里亚传统治疗师那里收集数据，和11个利比里亚传统医学的利用者。参与者被问及利比里亚的心理健康问题，治疗,以及对现代医疗保健的态度。使用内容分析对定性数据进行了调查和汇总。
结果：研究参与者描述的心理健康问题包括：OpenMole，非洲科学,癫痫,抑郁症和精神疾病（创伤/物质使用）。心理健康问题通常与社会经济困扰有关，参与者描述了他们对心理健康的态度和信念，传统医学,现代医疗保健。
结论：传统医学是非洲精神保健的重要组成部分。精神疾病,社会因素,和医疗保健是利比里亚的重要问题。心理健康问题融合了当地文化信仰与西化的新闻学和社会因素。传统治疗师对西医的态度反映了矛盾心理。希望与“现代”医疗保健提供者合作，但这需要建立互惠的信任。
