Traditional and religious healers in the pathway to care for people with mental disorders in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

In resource-limited contexts in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), a considerable proportion of individuals seeking care for mental disorders consult traditional and religious healers in their pathway to mental health care. Reports from Africa suggest that early involvement of healers may result in delays in the care pathway; a potential barrier to early identification and intervention.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the proportion of patients attending formal health services after making first contact for treatment of mental disorders with traditional or religious healers or other informal and formal care providers within published research in Africa. Electronic databases were searched for the period from January 1990 to February 2014.

SUBMITTER: Burns JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4442066 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature