Includes bibliographical references and index.

Foreword -- Acknowledgements -- List of Illustrations -- Abbreviations -- Local Words and Expressions -- 1 Prelude: the Globalization of Traditional Knowledge Systems -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Definition of Concepts -- 1.3 The International Context of TCAM Practices -- 1.4 Different but Complimentary? -- 1.5 Lay Out of Work -- 2 Subject Matter, Method and Theoretical Framework -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Choice of Study Area -- 2.3 Methodological and Theoretical Framework -- 2.4 Data Analysis -- 2.5 Ethical Considerations and Reflexivity -- 2.6 Theoretical Framework -- 2.7 Conclusion -- 3 Traditional Medicine, Colonialism and Apartheid in South Africa -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Biomedical Capitalism -- 3.3 Colonialism, Biomedical Hegemony and Alternative Healthcare -- 3.4 The Pre-Colonial Era -- 3.5 The Colonial Era -- 3.6 The Post-Colonial Era -- 3.7 Conclusion -- 4 Democracy, Witchcraft and Traditional Medicine -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 The HIV / AIDS Policy Context, Traditional Medicine and Democracy -- 4.3 The Lingering Socioeconomic Inequalities of the Apartheid Era -- 4.4 The "Return to Tradition" Policy -- 4.5 Shortages of Human Resources for Health -- 4.6 The Adoption of Democracy and the Promotion of Cultural Rights -- 4.7 Traditional Medicine as Cure and a Curse for HIV / AIDS -- 4.8 The Preference for Traditional Healers -- 4.9 Biomedical Hegemony? -- 4.10 Conclusion -- 5 The Sociocultural Context of HIV / AIDS in the Eastern Cape Region -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 The Eastern Cape Region and the Legacy of Apartheid Era Policies -- 5.3 The Sociocultural Context of HIV / AIDS -- 5.3.1 Labour-related Migration -- 5.3.2 Gender Identity and Unprotected Sex -- 5.3.3 Multiple Partnering and Intergenerational Relationships -- 5.3.4 Gender Inequality and Gender-based Violence -- 5.3.5 Teenage Pregnancies -- 5.3.6 Substance Abuse.

5.3.7 Cultural Factors: Initiation Rituals -- 5.3.7.1 Ukuthwala -- 5.3.7.2 Virginity Testing -- 5.4 Conclusion -- 6 The Debate on the Integration of Traditional Medicine into the Mainstream Healthcare Delivery System in South Africa -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 The Debate for and against Traditional Medicine -- 6.3 Primary Healthcare and the Changing Pattern of Disease -- 6.4 Traditional Medicine and the HIV / AIDS Pandemic -- 6.5 Conclusion -- 7 "African Diseases" and the Epistemology of South African Healers' Knowledge -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 The African Concept of Health -- 7.3 The Process of Becoming a Healer -- 7.4 Typology of African Traditional Healers -- 7.4.1 Disease as Prelude to Divinership -- 7.5 Prospects for the Integration of Traditional Medicine into Official Healthcare -- 7.6 Enhancing Cooperation between Traditional Healers and Biomedicine -- 7.7 Conclusion -- 8 The Integration of Modern and Traditional Medicine in Qokolweni Location -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Respondents' Opinions on Traditional Medicine -- 8.3 Opinions on Traditional Medicine -- 8.3.1 Case Study 1: Vuyo (Fictitious Name) -- 8.3.2 Case Study 2: Bate (Fictious Name) -- 8.3.3 Case Study 3: Monde (Fictious Name) -- 8.4 Perception of Nurses and Traditional Healers -- 8.5 Conclusion -- 9 The Daily Use of Traditional Medicine in Qokolweni Location -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 The African Concept of Health -- 9.3 The Concept of Traditional Medicine in Qokolweni -- 9.4 The Use of Traditional Medicine in Qokolweni -- 9.5 Attitudes and Perceptions towards African Traditional Medicine in Qokolweni -- 9.6 Users of African Traditional Medicine -- 9.7 Recommendations -- 9.8 Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index.

In Biomedical Hegemony and Democracy in South Africa Ngambouk Vitalis Pemunta and Tabi Chama-James Tabenyang unpack the contentious South African government's post-apartheid policy framework of the ''return to tradition policy''. The conjuncture between deep sociopolitical crises, witchcraft, the ravaging HIV/AIDS pandemic and the government's initial reluctance to adopt antiretroviral therapy turned away desperate HIV/AIDS patients to traditional healers. Drawing on historical sources, policy documents and ethnographic interviews, Pemunta and Tabenyang convincingly demonstrate that despite biomedical hegemony, patients and members of their therapy-seeking group often shuttle between modern and traditional medicine, thereby making both systems of healthcare complementary rather than alternatives. They draw the attention of policy-makers to the need to be aware of ''subaltern health narratives'' in designing health policy.

Description based on print version record.