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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The burden of childhood malaria: an anthropological insight into a major medical problem
Author:Kong'ong'o, MauriceISNI
Year:2006
Periodical:Research Review (ISSN 0855-4412)
Volume:22
Issue:1
Pages:15-22
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Subsaharan Africa
Africa
Subjects:malaria
child health
health care
traditional medicine
Medicine, Nutrition, Public Health
Children--Diseases
mortality
medical anthropology
Abstract:Modern health care services are the most effective for the treatment of malaria, yet they remain underutilized. Based on a review of published research, this paper presents the sociocultural factors at play in the management of childhood malaria. A number of studies have been conducted in various countries in sub-Saharan Africa on the role of sociocultural parameters in the understanding and interpretation of illness. These include local knowledge of the aetiology, transmission and interpretation of illness. It appears that causation and transmission of malaria are not always distinguished and are used interchangeably. Furthermore, the incidence of malaria is often not linked to mosquitoes, but to, for instance, drinking contaminated water or witchcraft. Treatment-seeking behaviour is influenced by a variety of factors, including beliefs, access to health care, costs of care and attitudes towards health care providers. The health care system can be divided into three overlapping parts: the popular, the professional and the folk sectors. In careseeking for childhood malaria this overlap is obvious and the consequences are manifest. Bibliogr., notes, sum. in English and French. [ASC Leiden abstract]
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