Exploring the lived experiences and perceptions of people using traditional medicine to manage non-communicable diseases in Lesotho
| dc.contributor.author | Sofeng, Mpho John Bangiso | |
| dc.contributor.supervisor | Mzingaye Brilliant Xaba | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-06-04T09:52:46Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-06-04T09:52:46Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description.abstract | The study explores the lived experiences of non-communicable disease (NCD) patients who use traditional herbs to combat ailments in Lesotho. Using African traditional medicine (ATM) has been challenged by hegemonic biomedical solutions, especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, where Indigenous African health solutions were infantilised to pave the way for biomedical approaches such as vaccines and injections. In Lesotho, the Parliament has also been sceptical about the use of ATM as it has been associated with adverse outcomes such as liver failure, worsening health outcomes, and, in some cases, death. This study employed social constructivism as its theoretical framework to explore the uses of ATM to manage NCDs. The core of this theory is the claim that knowledge is created through interactions and shared meanings of culture. This study employed a qualitative research approach to inform the study. The study used snowball and purposive sampling techniques to identify and select participants around Maseru, Mokhotlong, and Mafeteng districts. It collected data from written documents, participant observation, semi-structured in-depth interviews, life histories, and focus group discussions. The collected data was transcribed, translated into English, and analysed using thematic analysis. The findings of this study were multifaceted. The study indicated that participants who use ATM reported that traditional herbal concoctions are inclusive, cheaper, and easier to access in curing various ailments such as diabetes, cancer, stroke, and others. To this effect, it was noted that most of these participants had experienced treatment failure in hospitals and clinics. ATM is favoured mainly because, unlike Western pills and vaccines, which require strict time intervals for extended periods, herbal concoctions can be administered flexibly to “cure” specific ailments. However, there were reports of patients showing up with adverse impacts of using ATM at hospitals, such as liver failure and, in some cases, death. It was also noted that using such traditional medicinal herbs is not regulated in the sense that the users do not know the quantity they are to use, thus causing bad side effects that include jaundice. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | National Manpower Development Secretariat | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14155/2275 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | National University of Lesotho | |
| dc.title | Exploring the lived experiences and perceptions of people using traditional medicine to manage non-communicable diseases in Lesotho |