Collaboration between Spiritual (Holy Water) Treatment and Biomedical Treatment at St. Mary Church Outreach Program, Entoto: Pattern of Service Utilization and Attitude of Holy Water Attendants
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Date
2014-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Introduction:
The explanation for mental illness in Ethiopia is mainly supernatural .That is why the
majority of mentally ill people go to spiritual treatments, mainly holy water treatments.
The benefits of collaboration between biomedical services and holy water sites are many,
including early detection and treatment of mental illness. The St. Mary outreach program
aims to help mentally ill people at the St. Mary and St. Michael holy water sites by taking
the bio-medical treatment near them. This is done by volunteer Addis Ababa University
(AAU) residents.
Methods: This is a mixed quantitative and qualitative study.
Study 1: Descriptive evaluation of psychiatric patients that have attended the St. Mary
outreach program, Entoto from December of 2011 up to July of 2014. A data extraction
form was used to extrat data from patient charts. Data was analyzed using SPSS
statistical software.
Study 2: A qualitative study of the holy water attendants ’ attitudes and role was
conducted from September to October of 2014. A semi-structured interview was
conducted using a topic guide. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and
coded manually. A thematic analysis was conducted.
Result:
Study 1: A total of 174 charts were analyzed. The m ean number of patients seen per
clinic session have increased by 50 %( 14) in 2005, then by 75 %( 25) in 2006. 79.3% were
men, 73.3% had schizophrenia, 89.6% were educated and 61.7% came from Addis Ababa.
Study 2: The roles of the holy water attendants include ensuring the hygiene, security
and medication adherence of patients . They also act as gatekeepers to the St Mary Clinic.
There are two main attitudes towards treatment: both treatments are from God and we
should use both and they contradict because using both is like doubting God. The other
attitude is they complement each other. The attitude of the attendants towards
biomedical treatment is changing since the training from AAU psychiatrists. The
attendants have their own way of differentiating who should come to the clinic and who
should not. They bring patients who they consider mentally ill but they don’t bring
people who have mental illness and spirit possession.
Conclusion: The conclusion of the study is that it is possible to collaborate between
spiritual treatment and biomedical treatment.
Recommendation: To continue having trainings for the attendants and community
awareness campaigns focusing on family members of people with mental illness
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Keywords
Mental illness