2022
“If it weren’t for my traditional healer, I would be dead”: Engaging traditional healers to support people living with HIV in rural Mozambique
Audet CM, Pettapiece-Phillips M, Tian Y, Shepherd BE, Vermund SH, Salato J. “If it weren’t for my traditional healer, I would be dead”: Engaging traditional healers to support people living with HIV in rural Mozambique. PLOS ONE 2022, 17: e0270565. PMID: 35763519, PMCID: PMC9239464, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270565.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTraditional healersPsychosocial supportCommunity health worker interventionPre-post intervention study designWorker interventionHealth worker interventionMedication possession ratioMedication side effectsIntervention study designPositive test resultsHome-based supportObserved therapyPossession ratioClinical outcomesHIV treatmentPoor adherencePost-intervention participantsHealth facilitiesPatient's desireSide effectsZambézia ProvinceCare servicesStudy designHIVTherapy
2020
An unrecognized key population? Traditional treatment practices associated with HIV risk among traditional healers in rural South Africa.
Audet CM, Ngobeni S, Mkansi M, Wafawanaka F, Aliyu MH, Vermund SH, Wagner RG. An unrecognized key population? Traditional treatment practices associated with HIV risk among traditional healers in rural South Africa. AIDS 2020, 34: 2313-2317. PMID: 33048882, PMCID: PMC7674239, DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000002710.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSkin incisionPatient's bloodHIV testTraditional healersHIV prevalenceKey populationsRapid HIV testsRisk of acquisitionHigh HIV prevalenceBlood-borne pathogensTraditional treatment practicesSouth African traditional healersPositive test resultsCross-sectional surveyPersonal protective equipmentHIV acquisitionHIV infectionPosttest counselingPretest counselingHIV riskOccupational exposureMAIN OUTCOMERural South AfricaHIVAfrican traditional healers
2017
Adapting an adherence support workers intervention: engaging traditional healers as adherence partners for persons enrolled in HIV care and treatment in rural Mozambique
Audet CM, Salato J, Vermund SH, Amico KR. Adapting an adherence support workers intervention: engaging traditional healers as adherence partners for persons enrolled in HIV care and treatment in rural Mozambique. Implementation Science 2017, 12: 50. PMID: 28407813, PMCID: PMC5390357, DOI: 10.1186/s13012-017-0582-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCommunity health workersAntiretroviral therapyWorker interventionTraditional healersHealth workersHealth systemAllopathic health systemEvidence-informed interventionsLow-literacy populationsHIV careHIV diagnosisRural MozambiquePatient adherenceHIV epidemicHealth facilitiesClinical careHealthcare providersHealth workforceHIVTraditional treatmentCommunity-based activitiesInterventionTraditional medicineCareSuccessful program implementation
2016
Occupational hazards of traditional healers: repeated unprotected blood exposures risk infectious disease transmission
Audet CM, Salato J, Blevins M, Silva W, González‐Calvo L, Vermund SH, Gaspar F. Occupational hazards of traditional healers: repeated unprotected blood exposures risk infectious disease transmission. Tropical Medicine And International Health 2016, 21: 1476-1480. PMID: 27580349, PMCID: PMC5093076, DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12775.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBlood exposureOccupational hazardsBlood-borne agentsTraditional healersWilcoxon rank sum testRank sum testHepatitis BC virusChronic illnessInfectious disease transmissionHigh prevalenceZambézia ProvincePast monthHealers' practicesChi-squareTraditional practitionersMedianPatientsDisease transmissionInjectionRandom sampleRural MozambiqueExposureHealersSimple random sample
2014
Symptomatic HIV-Positive Persons in Rural Mozambique Who First Consult a Traditional Healer Have Delays in HIV Testing
Audet CM, Blevins M, Rosenberg C, Farnsworth S, Salato J, Fernandez J, Vermund SH. Symptomatic HIV-Positive Persons in Rural Mozambique Who First Consult a Traditional Healer Have Delays in HIV Testing. JAIDS Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2014, 66: e80-e86. PMID: 24815853, PMCID: PMC4077983, DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000000194.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV testingTraditional healersHealth facility visitsLow CD4 cellsCD4 cell countHIV-seropositive personsHIV-positive personsCross-sectional studyPrevious health careLocal health facilitiesHIV/AIDSTime of HIVAntiretroviral therapyTherapy delayCD4 cellsHIV diagnosisMedian timeSicker patientsInitial careTime of entrySymptomatic individualsFacility visitsRelevant symptomsEarly diagnosisHealth facilities
2013
Educational Intervention Increased Referrals to Allopathic Care by Traditional Healers in Three High HIV-Prevalence Rural Districts in Mozambique
Audet CM, Salato J, Blevins M, Amsalem D, Vermund SH, Gaspar F. Educational Intervention Increased Referrals to Allopathic Care by Traditional Healers in Three High HIV-Prevalence Rural Districts in Mozambique. PLOS ONE 2013, 8: e70326. PMID: 23936407, PMCID: PMC3731350, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070326.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman immunodeficiency virusReferral ratesTraditional healersHealth facilitiesNon-pregnant personsFavorable clinical outcomeHIV knowledge scoresPost-intervention ratesMonthly referral rateRural districtsClinical outcomesImmunodeficiency virusPregnant womenHIV knowledgeZambézia ProvincePatientsKnowledge scoreInexpensive interventionClinical servicesHealth systemMedian scoreEducational interventionTuberculosisCareClinic
2012
HIV/AIDS-Related Attitudes and Practices Among Traditional Healers in Zambézia Province, Mozambique
Audet CM, Blevins M, Moon TD, Sidat M, Shepherd BE, Pires P, Vergara A, Vermund SH. HIV/AIDS-Related Attitudes and Practices Among Traditional Healers in Zambézia Province, Mozambique. Journal Of Alternative And Complementary Medicine 2012, 18: 1133-1141. PMID: 23171035, PMCID: PMC3513988, DOI: 10.1089/acm.2011.0682.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsZambézia ProvinceTraditional healersHuman immunodeficiency virus infection/HIV/AIDS careHealth systemAllopathic providersTreatment practicesAllopathic health systemSymptoms/signsHIV/AIDS-related attitudesPatient's symptoms/signsFormal health providersHIV/AIDS trainingHIV/AIDSHIV patientsHIV diseaseHIV pathogenesisImmunodeficiency syndromeUninfected personsInfection/Late presentationHIV trainingInfectious originHIV knowledgeReferral practicesHIV knowledge and health-seeking behavior in Zambézia Province, Mozambique
Audet CM, Sidat M, Blevins M, Moon TD, Vergara A, Vermund SH. HIV knowledge and health-seeking behavior in Zambézia Province, Mozambique. SAHARA-J Journal Of Social Aspects Of HIV/AIDS 2012, 9: 41-46. PMID: 23237020, PMCID: PMC3868210, DOI: 10.1080/17290376.2012.665257.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth-seeking behaviourHIV transmissionZambézia ProvinceTraditional healersCommunity health care workersGovernment health clinicsCommunity health workersHealth care workersTransmission of HIVHIV prevalence ratesMajority of participantsHIV knowledgeTransmission knowledgeHealth clinicsHIV preventionHealth workersPrevalence ratesPrevention knowledgeMultiple-choice questionnaireSerious illnessHIV educationInfection rateClinical sitesCondom useLevel of knowledge
2007
Use of Traditional Medicine among Pregnant Women in Lusaka, Zambia
Banda Y, Chapman V, Goldenberg RL, Stringer JS, Culhane JF, Sinkala M, Vermund SH, H. B. Use of Traditional Medicine among Pregnant Women in Lusaka, Zambia. Journal Of Alternative And Complementary Medicine 2007, 13: 123-128. PMID: 17309386, DOI: 10.1089/acm.2006.6225.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultClinical Trials as TopicFemaleHealth BehaviorHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHIV InfectionsHumansMaternal BehaviorMaternal Health ServicesMedicine, African TraditionalPatient Acceptance of Health CarePregnancyPregnancy Complications, InfectiousPrevalenceSeroepidemiologic StudiesSurveys and QuestionnairesZambiaConceptsPregnant womenTraditional healersTraditional medicineHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention strategiesWorse medical careHealth care providersTraditional medicine usePublic health systemAntiretroviral regimensCurrent pregnancyMedical regimenHIV transmissionMedicine useHIV knowledgeClinical trialsPostpartum questionnaireCare providersPrevention strategiesSex partnersMedical carePrior useHealth systemDry sexPregnancyWomen