The belief that certain illnesses can only be treated by traditional healers: A qualitative study exploring the "traditional illness" Xifula in Limpopo, South Africa.

METHODS: Data was analysed using NVivo software. FINDINGS: cannot be treated by Western biomedical professionals and instead requires a traditional healer to treat the condition. INTERPRETATION: This research highlights the importance of context-specific education about the diagnosis and treatment of common ailments, as beliefs about afflictions, their causes, and appropriate treatments suggest a need for tailored information. As biomedical and traditional healthcare currently exist as parallel, siloed structures of diagnosis and treatment in Africa, there should also be efforts to bridge the divide between the two. FUNDING: This study was funded by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.