Malaria, from natural to supernatural
A qualitative study of mothers’ reactions to fever (Dienga, Gabon): Table 1
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11179884 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hugo Pilkington (0000-0002-8245-2806, Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, corresponding author), Justice Mayombo (Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville), Nicolas Aubouy (Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville), Philippe Deloron (0000-0003-4705-2484, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement) |
| Year | 2004 |
| Volume | 58 |
| Issue | 10 |
| Pages | 826-830 |
| Publication date | 2004-10-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0143-005X • E-ISSN: 1470-2738 |
| Publisher | BMJ (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1136/jech.2003.016089 |
| PMID | 15365107 |
| PMCID | PMC1763324 |
| OpenAlex | W2167897077 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
| References cited | 22 |
Objective: Decision making for health care at the household level is a crucial factor for malaria management and control among young children. This study sought to determine exactly how mothers reacted when faced with fever in a child. Design: Qualitative study based on in depth semistructured interviews of mothers and free form discussion with traditional healers (Nganga). Setting: Village of Dienga, a rural area of Gabon (Central Africa). Participants: 12 mothers and three traditional healers. Results: All mothers thought that fever and malaria were identical. Mothers home treated or went to the village treatment centre, or both, on the last episode of fever, if they judged it to be "natural" fever. However, if fever was thought to be a result of malicious intent, then a Nganga was consulted first. It was believed that strong and above all persistent fever was "supernatural". In this case, traditional treatment was thought to be best. Conclusions: Results indicate that fever is perceived as a dual condition, with two distinct but non-mutually exclusive aetiologies (either "natural" or from witchcraft). In contrast with what is commonly believed, there seems to be no clear cut distinction between diseases suitable for management by western medicine and diseases to be managed solely by traditional health practitioners. Moreover, these data do not support the commonly held notion that the decision to seek western medicine to treat fever is considered a "last resort". Results strongly imply that some severe cases of fever, being initially considered supernatural, may partially or completely escape medical attention
Family medicine · Malaria · Qualitative research · Sociology · Traditional medicine · Yellow fever · Global Maternal and Child Health · Immunology · Malaria Research and Control · Medicine · Thermal Regulation in Medicine · Pediatrics
Perceptions of symptoms of severe childhood malaria among Mijikenda and Luo residents of Coastal Kenya
Checklists for improving rigour in qualitative research
Qualitative research in health care
Self-treatment for malaria
Treatment seeking for malaria
Strengths and weaknesses of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in the eyes of some Hong Kong Chinese
History of health, a valuable tool in public health
Patterns of care for childhood malaria in Zambia
Local knowledge and treatment of malaria in Agusan del Sur, The Philippines
Child malaria treatment practices among mothers in Kenya
Treatment seeking for malaria in Morong, Bataan, The Philippines
Medical syncretism with reference to malaria in a Tanzanian community
| Citations per year | 0.24 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2005 - 2016 (12) |
| Highly cited | No |