Question

300 words

Section 3:African Cultural communication and application

Values and facilitation

Section 4: Compare African cultural differences to Western healthcare and healthcare service

Provide details on the African cultural beliefs and practices related to health, healthcare, and utilization of Western Healthcare Services.

Answer 1

3. Traditional communication is perhaps the most important way by which ruralities communicate among themselves and in effect with others. In rural society, this is for a large majority, the only means of getting information about event outside. Traditional media of communication is a complex system of communication which pervades all aspects of rural and urban life in Africa. It is complex in the sense that, it is not only one system but a network of other systems which operate at various levels of society. In reality, it is simple in its operation and it depends on trust for its credibility.

Demonstrative mode of traditional communication consist of music and signal and iconograpics in communication with the people. Here we are made to believe that music is not just a medium of entertainment but a vehicle to spread ideas and doctrines. Iconographic is a mode of traditional media of communication consists of the use of objects and flora media. It is a signification which the object refers to a thing, event or concept. For example the presentation of a bowl of kolanut and charcoal means acceptance to some people, pigeon or fowl, egg, white egg, feather, cowries, mimosa, flowers ,scriptures etc. have specific meanings or ideas to members of other communities.African Tradition is expressed through many different art forms, such as music, dance, art, sculpture and beadwork. These traditions are deeply ingrained into the whole African culture. Many African languages are “tone languages,” meaning that pitch level determines meaning.

Notable African values include large family practice, hard work, respect for senior members of the society, extended family system, religion, value for private property, language and many others.

4. Health beliefs are what people believe about their health, what they think constitutes their health, what they consider the cause of their illness, and ways to overcome an illness it. These beliefs are, of course, culturally determined, and all come together to form larger health belief system.

The African Belief is the strong hope in Spiritual powers. The word “Spiritual” as seen in the aspects of the Biopsychosocial (s) approach to healthcare and illness [11] is based on beliefs which can be connected to the history and culture of Africa [4]. The behaviour of Africans is motivated by what they believe, and what they believe is based on what they experience. Although western medicine and health care systems have been introduced in Africa, many African countries still rely on traditional health care.

The scenario will be explained using an example. A 36-year old woman who is highly educated and from elite family, experienced dissociative amnesia as a result of shock from a break-up of a love relationship. Two weeks before wedding, the client learned that her fiancée had gotten married to another person. Upon hearing this at the office, she fainted. Within the week she showed the following symptoms: She could not remember her name, the name of her fiancée; could not remember family members and co-workers. She experienced complete loss of self-identity information and deterioration in her work commitment. Parents of this client believed in Western medical treatment but as they did not understand the condition, they attributed this to spiritual attack, saying that the condition is due to the co-workers’ envy of the client’s success. The Parents of the client, however, first visited the medical center for treatment. A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination was conducted and the results proved that there was no physical damage to the brain. The medical examination which showed negative results consolidated the strong belief of the client’s family, that her condition was spiritual attack. Based on the medical results indicating no physical cause, parents of the client consulted the Charismatic church for treatment. The spiritual intervention, however, did not alleviate the symptoms of the client and they decided to visit the medical center again. The medical center also could not help until finally there was a referral to see a Clinical Health Psychologist. She was finally diagnosed and successfully treated with a psychological intervention.

In conclusion, there is increased knowledge on scientific causes of illness. As an increasing number of Africans consult medical care for their physical health conditions. However, despite the consultation of Western hospitals and clinics, they seem to also rely on supernatural beliefs for healthcare and illness recovery. From the case study, the lack of explanation for the client’s illness prompted the family to seek spiritual care, based on their existing beliefs. however, situations that are challenging to explain are attributed to spiritual causes and that is their belief system.

The Western health care system on the other hand is evidence based which relies on complete medical and family history, medical judgement and following protocols to the core. There is no scope of spiritual management. Medical guidelines with assisstance of laboratory investigations and imaging are followed to assess the physical condition of the patient concerned.