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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies

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01-12-2020 | Research article

The effect of legislation on the treatment practices and role of naturopaths in South Africa

Authors: Wendy Ericksen-Pereira, Nicolette V. Roman, Rina Swart

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Background

In South Africa naturopaths have been practising for over half a century. Over this period, changes in legislation have resulted in different levels of training and registration processes - which has impacted on the profession in various ways. This paper explores the effect of legislation on the treatment practices and role of naturopaths in South Africa.

Methods

This was a qualitative study which used an exploratory approach. Participants were sampled from the list of naturopaths registered with the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA). A set of 15 open-ended survey questions were emailed to 59 naturopaths. Twenty one naturopaths participated: 13 responded via email and eight were interviewed. Responses were coded and thematically analysed.

Results

It was found that despite differences in training and years of practice experience, four core treatment practices of diet therapy, lifestyle medicine, supplementation and physical therapies were common to all participants with the older, more experienced naturopaths using a wider range of treatment practices. There is a shared common vision of wanting the profession to have greater participation in the public healthcare system. This research has found that legislation influences the treatment practices and role played by naturopaths in South Africa. The findings of this paper acknowledges the limiting impact of state legislation on naturopathic and other complementary medicine professions.

Conclusion

Naturopathy has to operate within the legislative framework and this appears to be one of the key factors which has contributed to the lack of growth of naturopathy in South Africa. Findings thus highlight the need for new legislation to reflect the changes in society to ensure that the emergent healthcare needs of the population are met.

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Title: The effect of legislation on the treatment practices and role of naturopaths in South Africa
Authors: Wendy Ericksen-Pereira
Nicolette V. Roman
Rina Swart
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-02916-5

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The effect of legislation on the treatment practices and role of naturopaths in South Africa

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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