Cultural Awareness Project - South African by Samantha Yeargin

Beliefs about the Causes of Illness

syearg2989 — 2017-03-20 15:21:44 UTC

People in the South African culture believe that the first point of contact is often caused by attacks from evil or bad spirits. Spell-casting or and witchcraft are also other ways one could get sick.

Major Health Concepts

ehart7787 — 2017-03-20 15:22:19 UTC

Concepts of health and well-being are often connected to stress research. Salutogenesis includes the concept of the sense of coherence that is a life orientation that is believed to be entrenched in an individual's historical and present sociocultural experiences.

Beliefs on Death

zredmo4662 — 2017-03-21 15:11:29 UTC

-Death is the beginning of a person's deeper relationship with all of creation
-Every person who dies must be given a "proper" funeral because the person could become a lost ghost unable to "live" properly after death
-The dead is believed to strengthen the living
-Death is the loss of a Soul

Practices of Death

zredmo4662 — 2017-03-21 15:17:04 UTC

- A zig-zag route is taken to the grave site
- Some people are buried next to or under our house
-African death rituals begin by preparing the home soon after a person dies and receiving people who come to pay their respects to the dead
-Turning all pictures to face the wall and covering all mirrors, windows and reflective surfaces so the dead can't view themselves. In South Africa, the windows are smeared with ashes.

Types of Traditional Healers Utilized

ehart7787 — 2017-03-21 15:22:53 UTC

Sangomas and nyangas are the South African version of the shaman, traditional doctors who communicate with the spirit world and who treat ailments with traditional medicines.

Works Cited

syearg2989 — 2017-03-21 15:29:30 UTC

Methods of Treatment

dwrigh9639 — 2017-03-21 15:30:43 UTC

Biomedical Methods

-Fasting and Dieting
-Herbal Therapies
-Bathing
-Massage
-Surgical Procedures

Migraines, coughs, and etc. are often treated using method of bleed cupping.

Bleed Cupping
-Ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist put special cups on your skin to create junction.

Birth Beliefs and Practices

zredmo4662 — 2017-03-21 15:31:40 UTC

Birth among the Bantu people was traditionally attended by an older woman such as a grandmother or a traditional birth attendant. After a birth, the mother is secluded in her hut with the baby until she stops bleeding and burial of the placenta and cord has great importance. When the cord falls off, it is understood that the newborn now not only belongs to the mother, but to the whole community. Traditionally an animal is slaughtered as a sacrifice and the skin of the animal is given to the new infant as a protective clothing or sleeping mat. The burial spot of the placenta seals the attachment of a person to their ancestral land and it is a place to which many will return as adults. This burial place of the placenta is a place to connect with their ancestors in times of trouble, to dream and eventually to die. All African cultures believe that a new baby has come from the spirit world bearing gifts and talents. The naming ceremony is therefore of vital importance, connecting a baby to the ancestors who have imparted these talents and bonding the newborn to the community.

A Khoisan woman will instinctively know when her baby needs to urinate or pass a stool and will hold the baby away from her body to perform the function. She is attuned to her baby’s need for warmth, closeness, movement, elimination, hunger and is able to meet her baby’s needs without resorting to extensive efforts or tools. Her breasts are clean and the milk is sterile with all the correct nutrients for his growth. Social interaction is an integral part of this attunement, so the baby learns that co-operation and communication are the pillars of his survival and comfort levels. He also learns as he is able to toddle, walk and later run, that he has an important function to fulfil in the life of the community, that he has tasks and duties to fulfil as he grows into adulthood.

Children are the continuation of life – togetherness is essential for this continuation, no individual acts in isolation from the group or clan. Children bring much joy to the clan and provide great amusement when the group gathers around the fire or eats together. Children learn from early on that co-operation and friendliness are valued highly.

Responses to Pain

dwrigh9639 — 2017-03-24 14:59:51 UTC

-Pharmacological methods of pain management
Principles
-Relieve pain as fast as possible.
Mild pain-step 1
-Paracetamol
-Ibuprofen
-Some believe pain is a part of life to be endured.
-Some deny it until becomes unbearable.
-Some believe that prayer will relieve the suffering.

Special Symbols, Books, and Religious Practices

syearg2989 — 2017-03-24 15:29:00 UTC

South Africa is called the rainbow nation because of its variety of people, cultures and religions. Traditional african religion is based on oral traditions, which means that the basic values and way of life are passed from elders to younger generations. They believe that the individual only exists within the community and separation from it is sometimes worth than death. There are different books and symbols for different religions. Like Buddhism's symbol is the wheel of life and Christianity's symbol is the fish or the cross.

Health Care Beliefs

syearg2989 — 2017-03-29 13:51:56 UTC

Most South Africans believe that traditional health care is the way to go but most turn to public hospitals and clinics for health care. 81.3% of black South African households first consulted public sector health facilities, 17.2% first consulted private sector health facilities and only 1.5% first consulted “other” health facilities, which include spiritual healers and traditional healers. Interestingly, 1.5% of white South African households reported that they consulted “other” health facilities first.

Pictures

syearg2989 — 2017-03-29 14:10:43 UTC