Traditional healing remains core to many local communities in South Africa. This research was aimed at fostering stronger relationships between traditional healers and biomedical medicine focusing on their socio-economic challenges. This research involved collaboration between two Universities in South Africa and the USA, focusing on the social welfare and traditional healing, by articulating the experiences and positions of 40 selected traditional healers. Afro-sensed and developmental social welfare approaches were used for this study. Qualitative research approaches using focus group discussions, direct observations and in-depth interviews with selected traditional healers were applied. A thematic analysis approach was used to cluster emerging themes and sub-themes. Carefully presented themes were sifted from the data that referred to traditional healers’ experiences of their socio-economic realities. It should be noted that, while the socio-economic status of healers was significant, the scope of spiritual and philosophical dimensions related to traditional healing could not be ignored.

中文翻译：

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南非林波波省传统治疗师所面临的社会经济挑战：来自下方的对话

传统康复仍然是南非许多当地社区的核心。这项研究旨在促进传统治疗师与生物医学之间更紧密的联系，并侧重于其社会经济挑战。这项研究涉及南非和美国的两所大学之间的合作，通过阐明40名选定的传统治疗师的经验和职位，专注于社会福利和传统治疗。这项研究采用了非洲人开发的社会福利方法。定性研究方法采用焦点小组讨论，直接观察和对选定传统治疗师的深入访谈。使用主题分析方法将新兴主题和子主题聚类。精心介绍的主题已从涉及传统治疗师的社会经济现实经验的数据中筛选出来。应当指出，尽管治疗师的社会经济地位十分重要，但与传统治疗有关的精神和哲学方面的范围却不能忽略。