The acceptance of westernised health care into the ulwaluko (traditional circumcision) custom by amaXhosa in a rural Eastern Cape village

Abstract

The Ulwaluko (traditional circumcision) custom among the AmaXhosa is a traditional rite of passage. Traditionally all young men are required to undergo the custom. Its modern manifestation, however, has become problematic, because there is an increase in the morbidity and mortality which is associated with gangrenous and septic complications of the wound. Therefore an intervention was needed to reduce the problems. A westernised health care project was developed and implemented but some communities have not accepted it. Therefore there was a need to understand how it came to be accepted in one village in order to adapt it and promote its acceptance by other communities. The purpose of this study is to explain the acceptance of westernised health care into the traditional circumcision and give nurses a better understanding of how to give culturally sensitive care. A qualitative research design was used, specifically Ethnography, since this is the tradition for studying the meaning, patterns, and experiences of a defined cultural group (Polit and Hungier, 1997). ABSTRACT The researcher conducted separate in-depth semi-structured face-to-face interviews with the two key informants from the community and three focus groups. A total of 18 AmaXhosa men participated in the study. Data was transcribed from taped sessions. Thematic analysis was carried out and 12 major themes and eight sub-themes emerged.