Traditional health care in South Africa - diverse ideas and convergent practice

The main theme of this paper is a description of the surprising resistance of so-called folk concepts of health and illness to modem scientific medicine. This phenomenon is discussed in a historical as well as a socio cultural context, in order to facilitate understanding. It is indicated that although the methodoloffcal dictum of relativism may be initially useful as a heuristic guide to decipher what may be called the ‘lope of the irrational' cross-culturally, it may not be elevated to a position of ontological relativism. Ill health sets limits to human autonomy everywhere. Health care, however defined, is thus a universal human need. It must be realized that whatever the different cultural conceptions, taken-for-granted societal and professional power structures may prove to be important stumbling blocks in the delivery of more efficacious health care which modem scientific medicine undeniably can deliver. It is argued that knowledge of differences may be important in the facilitation of cross-cultural understanding. Members of the medical profession must, however, be able to tolerate differences, be aware of the unforeseen consequences of their taken-for-granted structural position as a social category and try to relate to people as autonomous human beings and not as members of conventional and thus stereotyped cultural or social categories

"Volkekunde": Open system and closed minds? - some critical remarks on criticism

Volk ekunde: ope sisteme en geslote denke? Enkele kritiese opmerki gs oor kritiek. Die skrywer gee in die artikel aandag aan kritiek wat oor die teorie en beoefening van Volkekunde uitgespreek word. Deur middel van 'n kort vergelykende opsomming van die teoretiese uitgangspunte van die sogenaamde vaders van etnosteorie, word daarop gewys dat daar nie sonder meer sprake van teoretiese en metafisiese uniformiteit in die dissipline is nie. Die mening word ook uitgespreek dat alhoewel daar nie genoeg aandag aan strukturele verhoudings in die verklarin g van kulturele behoud en verandering gegee word nie, dit nie noodwendig beteken dat 'n sogenaamde paradigmatiese revolusie in Volkekunde vereis word nie

Plume Characterization of a Typical South African Braai

To braai is part of the South African heritage that transcends ethnic barriers and socio-economic groups. In this paper, a comprehensive analysis of atmospheric gaseous and aerosol species within a plume originating from a typical South African braai is presented. Braai experiments were conducted at Welgegund – a comprehensively equipped regional background atmospheric air quality and climate change monitoring station. Five distinct phases were identified during the braai. Sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides(NOx) and carbonmonoxide (CO) increased significantly, while ozone (O3) did not increase notably. Aromatic and alkane volatile organic compounds were determined, with benzene exceeding the 2015 South African one-year ambient air quality limit. A comparison of atmospheric PM10 (particulate matter of an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm) concentrations with the 24-hour ambient limit indicated that PM10 is problematic during the meat grilling phase. From a climatic point of view, relatively high single scattering albedo (ωo) indicated a cooling aerosol direct effect, while periods with lowerωo coincided with peak black carbon (BC) emissions. The highest trace metal concentrations were associated with species typically present in ash. The lead (Pb) concentration was higher than the annual ambient air quality limit. Sulphate (SO4 2–), calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) were the dominant water-soluble species present in the aerosols. The largest number of organic aerosol compounds was in the PM 2.5–1 fraction, which also had the highest semi-quantified concentration. The results indicated that a recreational braai does not pose significant health risks. However, the longer exposure periods that are experienced by occupational vendors, will significantly increase health risks.KEYWORDS Braai (barbeque), atmospheric gaseous species, aerosols, atmospheric organic compounds, optical properties, chemical properties

Op weg na ’n Christelikke argeologiese wetenskap

Argeologie kan omskryf word as die studie van die menslike verlede soos dit op direkte en indirekte wyse weerspieel word in oorblyfsels van kultuurskeppinge en -aktiwiteite. Die veld van ondersoek van argeologie is egter nie slegs beperk tot die verre verlede nie, maar strek in beginsel oor die hele tydsduur van waameembare menslike aktiwiteit. Argeoloe onderskei dikwels hiervolgens tussen prehistoriese, protohistoriese en historiese argeologie). Die sentrale onderskeidende faktor is die aan- of afwesigheid van skrif. ’n Ander sienwyse is dat daar net tussen primêre en sekondêre prehistorie, onderskei moet word)

Die rol van profete as verskaffers van alternatiewe mediese sorg

In this article the unpublished results of a study on the healing and helping activities of prophets associated with Indigenous or Independent Churches in a Black township are reflected. The healing activities at the prophets homes and some a activities at churches are described as well as aspects of their materia medica. From interviews and a relatively long term association with the prophets it became clear that they are sincere in their conviction that they can help people in distress. From a small survey undertaken during the research, at least some of the former patients/clients of prophets interviewed also indicated that they had been helped/cured by the intervention of the prophets