Original Research

A conceptual framework for psychosocial health management grounded in the therapeutic merits of indigenous KhoiSan health dialogues

Khauhelo S. Mahlatsi, Abel J. Pienaar, Neo E. Nare, Tshilidzi M. Mulaudzi
Health SA Gesondheid | Vol 26 | a1626 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v26i0.1626 | © 2021 Khauhelo S. Mahlatsi, Abel J. Pienaar, Neo E. Nare, Tshilidzi M. Mulaudzi | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 09 February 2021 | Published: 16 August 2021

About the author(s)

Khauhelo S. Mahlatsi, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
Abel J. Pienaar, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa; and, Department of Graduate Studies and Research, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Neo E. Nare, Department of Health, Mental Health, North West Provincial Government, Mmabatho, South Africa
Tshilidzi M. Mulaudzi, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa

Abstract

Background: The researchers established that an indigenous KhoiSan community functions healthily without western mental health services. This community relies on indigenous healthcare with positive health outcomes over centuries. Despite this positive evidence, the community’s therapeutic achievements have not been explored previously.

Aim: To explore the therapeutic merits embedded in dialogues of healing to formulate a generic approach to managing psychosocial challenges.

Setting: The study was conducted in an indigenous KhoiSan community, Northern Cape province, South Africa.

Methods: A qualitative approach, by using an indigenous African research design, was followed. An African Indigenous Health Research Framework (AIHRF) was employed, particularly applying a classical African indigenous method of data-collection, namely orature. Theoretical sampling was used for the purpose that the emerging data guide the researcher to the next participants. The four-step analysis of the mentioned framework was deployed for data analysis.

Results: It was deduced that the therapeutic merits of dialogues go beyond the word of mouth, leading to the emergence of themes related to the successful management of psychosocial health challenges in the KhoiSan community.

Conclusion: These findings were used to generate a baseline conceptual framework for the management of psychosocial challenges in the KhoiSan community.

Contribution: Revitalisation of communal indigenous practices for the management of psychosocial health challenges within the KhoiSan community. The latter will sensitise research, teaching and learning to foster culturally informed counseling approaches. Moreover, these will inform policy formations to posses a culturally competent approach towards indigenous communities such as the KhoiSan community in the Northern Cape, South Africa.


Keywords

communal counsellee; communal counsellor; communal individual; dialogues of healing; healing; psychosocial health; !nxabasas; mpho ya badimo; the wheel of life

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