Munthali, Alister C., Mannan, Hasheem, MacLachlan, Malcolm and Swartz, Leslie (2016) Seeking Biomedical and Traditional Treatment is a Spiritual Lapse Among Zionists: A Case Study of the Zion Church in Malawi. Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies, 39 (2). ISSN 0041-5715
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Abstract
The Enabling Universal and Equitable Access to Healthcare for 
Vulnerable People in Resource Poor Settings in Africa (Equitable) Project was conducted in Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, 
and the Sudan between 2009 and 2012. It was aimed at determining the challenges which vulnerable groups, such as persons with 
disabilities, experience when accessing health care. It also aimed 
at identifying non-users of health services at the community level 
and reasons why they were not accessing these services. The study 
found that members of the Zion Church do not seek treatment from 
public or private health facilities, or from traditional healers. Not 
much has been written about how members of the Zion Church in 
Malawi seek health care. This paper explores how members of the 
Zion Church seek health care during illness episodes. The study 
was conducted in four districts in Malawi. A total of twenty-five 
members and non-members of this church were interviewed to 
determine how they sought health care. The study found that members of the Zion Church do not use Western medicine: the church 
does not allow them to seek treatment either from Western health 
facilities or traditional healers, otherwise they risk excommunication. Senior members of the church pray for the sick, and patients 
also seek treatment from the Zion Church clinic, where prayers, 
blessed water, and amulets are used in the treatment of diseases. 
Non-members who seek treatment from the Zion Church Clinic are 
advised to first seek treatment from traditional healers and health 
facilities. The Zion Church clinic should be the last resort for these
non-member patients, most of whom have been sick for a long time. 
After being cured, some of the non-members have been converted 
and joined the church. Our conclusion is that while medical pluralism exists in Malawian communities, members of the Zion Church 
only access treatment from their church elders and church clinics. 
They do not use Western medicine.
  
  | Item Type: | Article | 
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Zion Church; health seeking; Malawi; | 
| Academic Unit: | Assisting Living & Learning,ALL institute Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology  | 
        
| Item ID: | 16452 | 
| Identification Number: | 10.5070/F7392031107 | 
| Depositing User: | Malcolm MacLachlan | 
| Date Deposited: | 29 Aug 2022 15:51 | 
| Journal or Publication Title: | Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies | 
| Publisher: | African Studies Center | 
| Refereed: | Yes | 
| Related URLs: | |
| Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here | 
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