Intellectual Disability Support: Traditional Healers’ Views on Collaboration with Western-Trained Healthcare Practitioners

Intellectual Disability (ID) is a serious life-long disability and significant public health issue that arises pre-birth or during the developmental stage. It impairs intellectual, social functioning and adaptive abilities, and is one of the most common impairments among children. Under-resourced areas such as Khayelitsha in Western Cape, South Africa, have a high prevalence of ID and face immense structural, practical, and belief-related barriers to accessing ID biopsychosocial support. In collaboration with Western-trained healthcare practitioners, traditional healers within the community can contribute towards alleviating these barriers. This qualitative study utilised a phenomenological methodological approach and Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems theory to explore traditional healers' perspectives on collaborating with Western-trained healthcare practitioners to provide synergised ID support. We conducted 25 semi-structured interviews and one focus group discussion with traditional healers. We analysed 11 individual interviews and the focus group using Braun and Clarke's six-step method for thematic analysis. Seven key themes were identified and divided into barriers and facilitators of collaboration. Barriers were divergent healing practices, systemic disparities, and biases against traditional healers. Facilitators were building rapport, establishing systems for collaboration, and increasing access to resources and ID support. Traditional healers viewed collaboration as sensible in supporting children with ID; however, efforts must be made to address the presenting challenges for synergised ID support within communities. Future research should involve conducting community ID collaboration studies, garnering insight into collaboration efforts, documenting traditional healing practices, and conducting advocacy research to rectify systemic disparities.