Page 117 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 8
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Christian Psychology alive
book was published in 2012 and now includes a 3. The Faith-Based community and Faith
review of more than 3000 studies (Koenig, King Based Organizations in healthcare
& Carson, 2012). The handbook covers an over- South Africa has a very substantial burden of
view on the effect of religion on health. It has a disease, not only from HIV and AIDS but also
section on the relationship between religion and from preventable conditions arising from poor
mental health covering subjects such as well- sanitation, nutrition and other conditions of
being, depression, suicide, anxiety disorders as poverty, as well as a growing burden of non-
well as alcohol and drug abuse. The discussion communicable disease affected by lifestyle.
on the relationship between religion and physi- High levels of crime, physical trauma and vio-
cal health addresses heart disease, hypertensi- lence places a further burden on the healthcare
on, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, immune system. The important role of FBCs and FBOs
functions, cancer and mortality. Health beha- is already indicated in the Department of Social
viours and disease prevention is also positively Development‘s 2011 report on the South Afri-
influenced by religion. In conclusion Koenig et can Non-Profit sector. Faith-based organisati-
al. state: ons are the third biggest sector (12% = 8839 out
of a total of 76175), after Social Services (34%)
‘What have all these studies found? While and Development and Housing (21%). This is
some report that Religion/Spirituality (R/S) followed by the Health Sector (11% = 8723). The
people experience worse mental health (4%) South African Government’s National Strategic
and poorer physical health (8.5%) many Plan on HIV, STIs and TB 2012-2016 (n.d.) re-
more studies (over eighteen hundred) find si-
gnificant positive relationships between R/S cognises die important role of the Faith-Based
involvement and mental or physical health. sector and the networks it provides. In the 2012
Indeed, at least two-thirds of these studies re- article on The Scale of Faith Based Organizati-
port that R/S people experience more positive on Participation in Health Service Delivery in
emotions (well-being, happiness, life satisfac- Developing Countries, Kagawa, Anglemyer and
tion), fewer emotional disorders (depression, Montagu has estimated that faith-based orga-
anxiety, suicide, substance abuse), more social nizations play a substantial role in providing
connections (social support, marital stabili- healthcare in developing countries and in some
ty, social capital) and live healthier lifestyles cases provide up to 70% of all healthcare ser-
(more exercise, better diet, less risky sexual
activity, less cigarette smoking, more diseases vices.
screening, better compliance with treatment)’
(2012:600-601). A hallmark of South African Society, apart from
its diversity and inequalities, is the religious in-
In South Africa there is no statutory require- volvement of people and communities. In the
ment or official system in place for accredita- 2011 census questions about religion was not
tion and certification of spiritual and pastoral included. The 2001 census indicated that more
workers in healthcare. Neetling (2003) has than 80% of South-African had some religious
done a study regarding the relevance of pastoral affiliation (http://www.statssa.gov.za/). The 2012
work in South Africa with specific reference to Gallup poll has however indicated a 19% decline
the Southern African Association for Pastoral in religiosity from 83% (2005) to 64% (2012). A
Work (SAAP; http://www.saap.za.net/). Neet- very interesting trend is that levels of religiosity
ling (2003:82) concluded that Pastoral Coun- are much higher in low-income groups (66%)
selling is a possible national health resource for than in high income groups (49%).
healthcare, cost effectiveness, spirituality, social
change, reconciliation and multi-cultural appli- Magezi (2008) is therefore correct in empha-
cation. sizing the churches contribution to national
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