Fikile Vilakazi
University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Title: Participation of traditional health practitioners in the regulation of African traditional medicines: Empirical evidence from South Africa
Biography
Biography: Fikile Vilakazi
Abstract
Public participation in the development of regulation/legislation has gained increased prominence within the international research community, inspiring some theorists and policy-makers to talk of a 'new paradigm' for research and many organisations to review and reform their research programmes and practices. Although much is known about African traditional medicines, there are still many unanswered questions about its regulation. Ensuring broader public participation can have a real impact on the promotion and authentication of anecdotal knowledge of African traditional medicines throughout the world. This can change the ways in which government or concerned organisations think and act while dealing with the development of African traditional medicines regulation. This research was aimed at measuring the level of public participation and the role of trust and reciprocity amongst African Traditional Health Practitioners (ATHPs) from the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality in the regulation of African Traditional Medicines (ATMs) in South Africa. A quantitative research methodology was employed throughout the research process and data collected using self-administered questionnaires. The results indicate that reciprocity and trust play a statistically significant role (P>|t| value of 0.00 in reciprocity and 0.01 in trust) to influence levels of participation. In addition high levels of trust in government (62%) by ATHPs correlated with ATHPs decreased levels of participation in the current regulation of ATMs by government.