Abstract

DLAMINI, S; MOODLE, I  and  REDDY, M. Cultural Beliefs and Oral Health Practices in Rural KwaZulu-Natal: Bridging Tradition with Modernity through Perspectives of Traditional Health Practitioners. S. Afr. dent. j. [online]. 2025, vol.80, n.9, pp.483-488. ISSN 0375-1562.  https://doi.org/10.17159/sadj.v80i09.21644.

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), the second largest province in South Africa, is home to the Zulu nation, whose culture is deeply rooted in ancestral traditions, including health practices. Oral health, although essential to overall health, is often influenced by cultural beliefs and practices in rural communities. While modern oral care such as brushing with fluoride toothpaste and visiting a dental professional regularly is widely promoted in urban areas, rural areas in KZN still rely on indigenous methods for maintaining oral hygiene and treating dental problems. These traditional practices reflect both practical solutions and spiritual beliefs. This qualitative study explored how rural KwaZulu-Natal's oral health practices are shaped by cultural traditions, the role of traditional health practitioners (THPs), and modern dentistry and the challenges of integrating the two. METHODS: Purposive sampling included 42 participants from 5 KZN district municipalities who were selected by the Traditional Healers' Research Officer of the province. Selecting participants was based on the criteria of being a registered THP under a recognised organisation, namely Traditional Healers' Organisation (THO), Vukuzenzele and Nupatsa RESULTS: The vast majority of traditional health practitioners revealed that oral diseases can be caused by spiritual and physical forces. This means that a disturbance of spiritual ease can manifest physically through disease. Furthermore they advocated that in order to strengthen the care of oral diseases, it could be managed by both dental professionals and traditional healers concurrently although different interventions were necessary. CONCLUSION: By valuing and integrating traditional practices, rural communities in KZN can achieve oral health outcomes while preserving their rich cultural heritage, demonstrating the confluence of tradition and modernity which can lead to innovative and culturally competent oral health solutions. This collaboration will not only enhance accessibility and acceptability of oral health programs but also foster mutual respect and understanding between diverse oral health paradigms

Keywords : Traditional health practitioners; cultural belief; oral diseases; oral health.

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