spirit and healing in africa - University of the Free State

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 11
1. Research background 11
2. Research problem 13
3. Research questions 15
4. Research hypothesis 16
5. Research methodology 18
6. Research contribution 20
7. Research outline 21
PART I. EXPLORING THE AFRICAN HORIZON: DISCOURSES ON HEALTH 24
CHAPTER 1. THE FABRIC OF HEALTH IN AFRICA 24
1.1 WHAT IS HEALTH? 24
1.1.1 Who’s definition of health 24
1.1.2 Two basic approaches to health 25
1.2 MEANING OF SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISM IN HEALTH RESEARCH 27
1.2.1 Social structures 27
1.2.2 Health-orientated approach 28
1.2.3 Broadening theological reflection on health 29
1.3 HEALTH AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT 29
1.3.1 Contextuality 29
1.3.2 Discourse 31
1.3.3 Hybridity 31
1.3.4 Globalization 33
1.3.5 Patient’s perspective 34
1.3.6 Fabric of health: making sense of health 35
1.4 HEALTH DISCOURSES 37
1.4.1 Discourse theory 37
1.4.2 Health discourses in Africa 40
1.5 CONCLUSIONS 42
CHAPTER 2. AFRICAN TRADITIONAL HEALING DISCOURSE 44
2.1 TRADITIONAL HEALING 44
2.2 HEALING AND RELIGION IN AFRICA 46
2.2.1 African traditional religion or cults of affliction 46
2.2.2 Health notions generated by African religious beliefs 47
2.3 NGOMA PARADIGM 52
2.3.1 Institution of African traditional healing 52
2.3.2 Ancestral or spiritual legitimation 53
2.3.3 Power of ngoma 54
2.3.4 The social environment of ngoma 55
2.4 BORDERS OF AFRICAN TRADITIONAL HEALING 57
2.4.1 Healing and borders 57
2.4.2 Literal and figurative borders 57
2.4.3 The need for borders in African healing 58
2.5 RELATIONALITY 62
2.5.1 Holistic healing 62
2.5.2 Healing as a community service 63
2.5.3 Borders as constituents of the healing community 64
2.6 CONCLUSIONS 65
CHAPTER 3. MISSIONARY MEDICINE DISCOURSE 68
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