Thirteenth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Religious or spiritual beliefs may influence service provision among healthcare providers. This paper is part of my PhD thesis on the role of patients’ religious or spiritual beliefs in a healthcare. Using an exploratory investigation, 30 participants, comprising 15 male and 15 female patients receiving treatment in the hospital at the time of the study, were interviewed. In addition, two focus-group discussions were conducted with the patients. Tesch and Braun and Clarke approaches were employed for data analysis. African traditional and cultural beliefs were considered affordable and enabled people to connect with their ancestral spirits. The study recommends that social workers approach patient care holistically.