This article raises a few issues that prevail in the South African society which may interfere with therapeutic relationships in rehabilitation. Although it focuses on health matters, many of the racial issues discussed are not exclusive either to health or to South Africa. Suggestions that may facilitate communication between the various ethnic groups are proposed. Some of the interpretations and suggestions are the personal opinions of the author.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
TimberlakeL.Africa in crisis: The disease, the cures of environmental bankruptcy. Nottingham: Russell Press, 1985: 8, 173.
2.
GreenJ.OASSA, Organisation for Appropriate Social Services in South Africa. Critical Health1989; 27: 56–61.
3.
NeuhausBE. WFOT Delegation visit to South Africa. Occupational Therapy News (in South Africa)1989; 27: 56–61.
4.
South African Statistics 1992. Pretoria: Central Statistics Services, 1992.
5.
RandallL.The acquisition of empathy: Issues for white South African occupational therapists. S Afr J Occup Ther1991; 21(1): 24–29.
GobodoP.Psychopathology and culture. Critical Health1992; 32: 52–58.
8.
MoseyAC. Psychosocial components of occupational therapy. New York: Raven Press, 1986.
9.
ClaxtonV.Editorial. S Afr J Occup Ther1988; 18(1): 3–5.
10.
SwartzL.Transcultural psychiatry in South Africa, part 1. Transcultural Psychiatric Res Rev1986; 23: 273–303.
11.
KotkinZ.An approach to the treatment of tribal African with malignant disease. S Afr J Occup Ther1978; 8: 14–15.
12.
PedrettiLW. Occupational therapy: practice skills for physical dysfunction. St Louis: CV Mosby, 1981.
13.
PASA. Mental health in South Africa. Psychol Assoc S Afr1989; Jul: 38.
14.
FreemanM.The challenges facing mental health care in South Africa. In: FreemanJ, ed. Proceedings of the symposia — Mental health care for a new South Africa and rural community mental health. Johannesburg: University of the Witwatersrand, 1990.
15.
GillisLSSandlerRJakoetADickemanB.The rise in readmission to psychiatric hospitals. S Afr Med J1985; 65: 467–70.
16.
DelmanJ.Advocacy now: Alternatives to hospitalisation. Patients' Rights and Mental Advocacy1980; 3(2): 18–19.
17.
McLarenP.Primary health care in Kwa-Zulu. S Afr J Occup Ther1980; 10(1): 10–13.
18.
WadeCTavrisC.Psychology. New York: Harper and Row, 1987.
19.
WHO. Handbook of resolutions and decision of the world health assembly and the executive board. Vol. 111, 2nd ed, 1985–1989. 39th to 42nd Health Assemblies. 75th to 84th sessions of the Executive Board 1990. Geneva; WHO, 1990.
20.
VeriavaY.Torture and the medical profession in South Africa — Compliancy or concern?Critical Health1989; 26: 39–52.
21.
LorenzoT.The challenge of a community-based rehabilitation programme in a rural area in Gazankulu. S Afr J Occup Ther1991; 21(1): 18–22.
22.
VoceASCrouchRB. A pilot study of socioemotional groupwork in the occupational therapy programme of an acute psychiatric unit. S Afr J Occup Ther1986; 16(1): 27–34.
23.
GilbertAJ. Psychology and social change in the third world: A cognitive perspective. Doctoral thesis. Pretoria: University of South Africa, 1986.