WESTERN AND AFRICAN CONCEPTUALIZATIONS OF HEALTH

Views of health amongst southern African peoples are reviewed. Apparen t in the review is the contrast between Western compartmentalized thin king about health issues and the more holistic approach that character izes traditional Africa. The slow convergence of thinking between thes e views that is evolving is outlined. An approach which emphasises sim ilarities rather than differences is advocated for future thinking abo ut the integration of African and Western health care systems.