A systematic review of mental health care access in disadvantaged communities in South Africa
- Authors: Dube, Nkosingiphile Zama
- Date: 2025-04-25
- Subjects: Mental health services South Africa , Rural mental health services South Africa , Social psychiatry South Africa , Healers South Africa , Help-seeking , Systematic reviews (Medical research)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478295 , vital:78174
- Description: Background: Access to mental healthcare in disadvantaged rural communities in South Africa faces numerous challenges, particularly due to cultural beliefs that impact help-seeking behaviours. Systematic reviews provide critical insights into the barriers and facilitators of healthcare access in such contexts. This review aims to evaluate the available literature on mental healthcare access in rural South African communities, with a specific focus on the influence of cultural beliefs on help-seeking behaviours. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify studies published between 2010 and 2023. Studies were included if they examined barriers to mental healthcare access in rural South African settings and involved culturally relevant factors. Screening, selection, and appraisal of studies were carried out using PRISMA guidelines, with data extracted and synthesized through qualitative thematic analysis. Results: A total of 24 studies met the inclusion criteria. Key findings identified barriers such as financial constraints, scarcity of mental health facilities, stigma, long distances to services, language barriers, and cultural beliefs. Cultural practices, such as attributing mental distress to witchcraft or ancestral displeasure, were found to influence perceptions of mental health and discourage professional intervention, with traditional healers and community elders frequently being the preferred resource. Some community members, despite limited knowledge, utilized smartphones for mental health applications, while others relied on traditional practices and community support networks. Conclusion: This review underscores the need for a culturally sensitive, integrated approach to mental healthcare in rural South Africa, blending traditional and modern practices. Recommendations include conducting rural needs assessments, fostering collaboration between mental health practitioners and traditional healers, and enhancing teacher training. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2025
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2025-04-25
- Authors: Dube, Nkosingiphile Zama
- Date: 2025-04-25
- Subjects: Mental health services South Africa , Rural mental health services South Africa , Social psychiatry South Africa , Healers South Africa , Help-seeking , Systematic reviews (Medical research)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478295 , vital:78174
- Description: Background: Access to mental healthcare in disadvantaged rural communities in South Africa faces numerous challenges, particularly due to cultural beliefs that impact help-seeking behaviours. Systematic reviews provide critical insights into the barriers and facilitators of healthcare access in such contexts. This review aims to evaluate the available literature on mental healthcare access in rural South African communities, with a specific focus on the influence of cultural beliefs on help-seeking behaviours. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify studies published between 2010 and 2023. Studies were included if they examined barriers to mental healthcare access in rural South African settings and involved culturally relevant factors. Screening, selection, and appraisal of studies were carried out using PRISMA guidelines, with data extracted and synthesized through qualitative thematic analysis. Results: A total of 24 studies met the inclusion criteria. Key findings identified barriers such as financial constraints, scarcity of mental health facilities, stigma, long distances to services, language barriers, and cultural beliefs. Cultural practices, such as attributing mental distress to witchcraft or ancestral displeasure, were found to influence perceptions of mental health and discourage professional intervention, with traditional healers and community elders frequently being the preferred resource. Some community members, despite limited knowledge, utilized smartphones for mental health applications, while others relied on traditional practices and community support networks. Conclusion: This review underscores the need for a culturally sensitive, integrated approach to mental healthcare in rural South Africa, blending traditional and modern practices. Recommendations include conducting rural needs assessments, fostering collaboration between mental health practitioners and traditional healers, and enhancing teacher training. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2025
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2025-04-25
The use of creative-arts therapies in treating trauma-related mental health conditions in South Africa: perspectives from three practising creative-arts therapists
- Makube, Tshegofatso Bennia Basetsana
- Authors: Makube, Tshegofatso Bennia Basetsana
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Arts Therapeutic use , Mental health South Africa , Mental health services South Africa , Health services accessibility South Africa , Psychological trauma , Stigma (Social psychology) , Mental illness Social aspects South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/425399 , vital:72235
- Description: Multiple factors contribute to the prevailing mental health conditions of South Africans. According to Kaminer and Eagle (2010, p.8), 75% of South Africans are trauma survivors, half of whom have experienced multiple traumas, some directly and some indirectly. However, many trauma survivors are not adequately treated due to the limited access and availability of mental health specialists in the country. Thus, mainstream medical treatments ought to be supplemented by alternative forms of therapy such as creative-arts therapy that cater to the wide demographic range of citizens in South Africa. This research aims to explore the efficacy of creative-arts therapies as a treatment for trauma-related mental health conditions in South Africa from the perspectives of three practising creative-arts therapists. The research is a qualitative study and uses Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to interpret the data. The research participants consisted of three accredited creative-art therapists practising in Music, Art, and Dance. The participants were interviewed using semi-structured, in-depth interviews which were conducted online. The interview data was transcribed and analysed using the IPA framework provided by Smith, Flowers and Larkin (2009). The results yielded three superordinate themes which were supported by eight subordinate themes. The results suggest that creative-arts therapies are underutilized in South Africa due to a lack of public awareness and general (mis)perceptions about mental health conditions. Furthermore, access to these therapies in formal settings is limited as they are not offered as treatment options in public health facilities, which negatively impacts the viability of creative-arts therapies practice in the country. Creative-arts therapies offer several unique benefits to individuals of all ages, backgrounds and abilities as they do not require prior artistic knowledge or experience to participate in treatment. In addition, they are non-verbal which helps to bridge the language and cultural barriers that often arise as a result of South Africa’s diverse cultural population. Finally, creative-arts therapies are an effective method of treating mental health conditions incurred through trauma as they focus on accessing stored trauma in the body or unconscious mind through a natural and non-judgemental platform of creative expression. As a result, they address the physical, emotional, psychological, and cognitive effects of trauma while empowering the individual. In conclusion, this research suggests that creative-arts therapies are highly effective in the treatment of trauma-related mental health conditions, particularly in a country like South Africa which experiences high incidents of trauma. They should be better integrated into public health care facilities so that they are accessible to the general public. This will result in an increase in the use of creative-arts therapies as a treatment option for mental health conditions, particularly those related to trauma. It would also help to address the limited awareness and poor perceptions of the nature of mental health, mental illness, mental health care and mental health care services. , Thesis (MMus) -- Faculty of Humanities, Music and Musicology, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
- Authors: Makube, Tshegofatso Bennia Basetsana
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Arts Therapeutic use , Mental health South Africa , Mental health services South Africa , Health services accessibility South Africa , Psychological trauma , Stigma (Social psychology) , Mental illness Social aspects South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/425399 , vital:72235
- Description: Multiple factors contribute to the prevailing mental health conditions of South Africans. According to Kaminer and Eagle (2010, p.8), 75% of South Africans are trauma survivors, half of whom have experienced multiple traumas, some directly and some indirectly. However, many trauma survivors are not adequately treated due to the limited access and availability of mental health specialists in the country. Thus, mainstream medical treatments ought to be supplemented by alternative forms of therapy such as creative-arts therapy that cater to the wide demographic range of citizens in South Africa. This research aims to explore the efficacy of creative-arts therapies as a treatment for trauma-related mental health conditions in South Africa from the perspectives of three practising creative-arts therapists. The research is a qualitative study and uses Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to interpret the data. The research participants consisted of three accredited creative-art therapists practising in Music, Art, and Dance. The participants were interviewed using semi-structured, in-depth interviews which were conducted online. The interview data was transcribed and analysed using the IPA framework provided by Smith, Flowers and Larkin (2009). The results yielded three superordinate themes which were supported by eight subordinate themes. The results suggest that creative-arts therapies are underutilized in South Africa due to a lack of public awareness and general (mis)perceptions about mental health conditions. Furthermore, access to these therapies in formal settings is limited as they are not offered as treatment options in public health facilities, which negatively impacts the viability of creative-arts therapies practice in the country. Creative-arts therapies offer several unique benefits to individuals of all ages, backgrounds and abilities as they do not require prior artistic knowledge or experience to participate in treatment. In addition, they are non-verbal which helps to bridge the language and cultural barriers that often arise as a result of South Africa’s diverse cultural population. Finally, creative-arts therapies are an effective method of treating mental health conditions incurred through trauma as they focus on accessing stored trauma in the body or unconscious mind through a natural and non-judgemental platform of creative expression. As a result, they address the physical, emotional, psychological, and cognitive effects of trauma while empowering the individual. In conclusion, this research suggests that creative-arts therapies are highly effective in the treatment of trauma-related mental health conditions, particularly in a country like South Africa which experiences high incidents of trauma. They should be better integrated into public health care facilities so that they are accessible to the general public. This will result in an increase in the use of creative-arts therapies as a treatment option for mental health conditions, particularly those related to trauma. It would also help to address the limited awareness and poor perceptions of the nature of mental health, mental illness, mental health care and mental health care services. , Thesis (MMus) -- Faculty of Humanities, Music and Musicology, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Understanding trance states from the perspective of South African traditional healers - in relation to psychosis
- Authors: Masia, Ntombifuthi Thato
- Date: 2022-04-07
- Subjects: Trance , Psychoses , Altered states of consciousness , Healers South Africa , Healers South Africa Attitudes , Mental health services South Africa , Psychoses Alternative treatment , Psychoses Alternative treatment Moral and ethical aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Master's article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232877 , vital:50034
- Description: Studies conducted on psychosis, sleep and trance states have indicated that the phenomenon of trance occurs quite similarly to that of psychosis. Trance states (or, altered states of consciousness) are defined as mental states in which there is an alteration in the informational or representational relationships between consciousness and the world, whereby the mechanisms of consciousness have an increased tendency to produce misrepresentations like hallucinations, delusions and memory or temporal distortions. This research study aimed to contribute to the knowledge of trance states, particularly as represented by the language and social processes of traditional healers in South Africa, and as experienced by them. This knowledge is geared towards providing insight on the experience and treatment of the similarly occurring phenomenon of psychosis in clinical settings. Through a qualitative study, this research found that strategies of exploration, building recognition and familiarity, and self-monitoring are used by traditional healers to reduce the distress caused by intrusive and disruptive symptoms of trance, as well as to maintain a stable self-identity while experiencing trance states. , Thesis (MA) -- Humanities, Psychology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-07
- Authors: Masia, Ntombifuthi Thato
- Date: 2022-04-07
- Subjects: Trance , Psychoses , Altered states of consciousness , Healers South Africa , Healers South Africa Attitudes , Mental health services South Africa , Psychoses Alternative treatment , Psychoses Alternative treatment Moral and ethical aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Master's article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/232877 , vital:50034
- Description: Studies conducted on psychosis, sleep and trance states have indicated that the phenomenon of trance occurs quite similarly to that of psychosis. Trance states (or, altered states of consciousness) are defined as mental states in which there is an alteration in the informational or representational relationships between consciousness and the world, whereby the mechanisms of consciousness have an increased tendency to produce misrepresentations like hallucinations, delusions and memory or temporal distortions. This research study aimed to contribute to the knowledge of trance states, particularly as represented by the language and social processes of traditional healers in South Africa, and as experienced by them. This knowledge is geared towards providing insight on the experience and treatment of the similarly occurring phenomenon of psychosis in clinical settings. Through a qualitative study, this research found that strategies of exploration, building recognition and familiarity, and self-monitoring are used by traditional healers to reduce the distress caused by intrusive and disruptive symptoms of trance, as well as to maintain a stable self-identity while experiencing trance states. , Thesis (MA) -- Humanities, Psychology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04-07
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