107 research outputs found
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Médecins Blancs et Sorciers en Pays Colonisé: Politiques de santé, modes d’influence et oppositions
Full text linkL’article traite de la politique de santé engagée à Madagascar en période coloniale dont l’objectif principal était d’améliorer l’état sanitaire du pays afin de faire progresser la situation démographique. Les modes d’influence du pouvoir étaient nombreux pour gagner la confiance des Malgaches et, ainsi, imposer les normes occidentales dans le domaine de la santé.Les agents de santé, médecins militaires et civils, rencontraient des difficultés à expérimenter de nouveaux procédés thérapeutiques et répandre une vision hygiéniste occidentale. Ce qui freinait l’étendue et l’évolution de l’Assistance médicale indigène était en partie dû à l’attitude réfractaire des populations locales. Parmi les modes d’influence convoqués pour amener les indigènes à consulter le médecin colonial ou le médecin blanc, puis le médecin dit de brousse, qui permettaient de réduire quelque peu les rapports de force, notons l’importance donnée à l’amélioration technique des procédés thérapeutiques et des infrastructures mais aussi à la transmission de l’information médicale.Cependant, les médecins coloniaux étaient aussi confrontés à l’autorité et à l’influence des thérapeutes indigènes ou devins-guérisseurs (ombiasy) qui, de tradition, étaient les principaux soignants. Ces personnages qui avaient la connaissance de la pharmacopée et des techniques thérapeutiques magico- religieuses - comme la lecture divinatoire et l’astrologie - étaient perçus par le pouvoir colonial et ses agents médicaux comme dangereux du fait de leur autorité religieuse, parfois mise au service d’actions politiques
Cultural Patterns of Health Care Beliefs and Practices among Muslim Women in Uzbekistan
Full text linkThe purpose of this ethnographic study is to describe and analyse the meanings and uses of healthpromotion practices and beliefs, healing practices and folk medicine for Uzbek Muslim women.Contemporary healing practices can be seen as combining shamanic and Islamic concepts aboutdisease and healing, Sufi Research focus.The research questions ask how participants make decisions to seek remedies throughhealing practices, and how and whether they experience these choices and actions as empowering.The research also asks about what sorts of conditions women seeks to address through traditionalhealing practices; those in this study discussed seeking out such healing for colds, bronchitis, heartdisease, arthritis, as well as emotional and economic distress.Significance. With the increasing migration of Uzbeks to Canada, strength-based health care provisionapproach based on person-centred care, empowerment, health promotion and prevention and collaborative partnership is crucial in achieving quality of care
The Best Laid Plans: Access to the Rajiv Aarogyasri community health insurance scheme of Andhra Pradesh
Full text linkThis paper is a qualitative assessment of a public health insurance scheme in the state of Andhra Pradesh, south India, called the Rajiv Aarogyasri Community Health Insurance Scheme (or Aarogyasri), using the case-study method. Focusing on inpatient hospital care and especially on surgical treatments leaves the scheme wanting in meeting the health care needs of and addressing the impoverishing health expenditure incurred by the poor, especially those living in rural areas. Though well-intentioned, people from vulnerable sections of society may find the scheme ultimately unhelpful for their needs. Through an in-depth qualitative approach, the paper highlights not just financial difficulties but also the non-financial barriers to accessing health care, despite the existence of a scheme such as Aarogyasri. Narrative evidence from poor households offers powerful insights into why even the most innovative state health insurance schemes may not achieve their goals and systemic corrections needed to address barriers to health care
Traditional Medicine Through the Filter of Modernity: A brief historical analysis
Full text linkTraditional medicines still prevail in current Malagasy context. A careful historical analysis shows however that Malagasy traditional medicine has been screened through many filters before being accepted in a global context. Traditional medicine in its authentic form has been more or less rejected with the advent of modern medicine – although not without reaction. This paper will retrace the historical encountering of the modern and traditional to determine the extent to which traditional medicine is acknowledged and used in the current prevailing modern, rational and scientific global context
Faith, Trust and the Perinatal Healthcare Maze in Urban India
Full text linkHow women access and utilise health services through pregnancy, childbirth and infancy needs to be understood if we are to improve the delivery of and access to appropriate healthcare. Drawing on ethnographic observations of clinic encounters and in-depth interviews with women in Bangalore, South India, this paper reports on the complexities of negotiating healthcare throughout the perinatal continuum in urban India. Key themes identified include faith and trust in health services, confusion over right to healthcare; and the contested nature of choice for women. What is revealed is a socially restrictive framework that results in choices that seem arbitrary, irrational and self-defeating; poor women being particularly vulnerable. Given the current policy support for public-private-partnerships in reproductive healthcare delivery in India, both public and private health services need to move substantially to achieve true partnership and provide care that is respectful and valued by women and children in urban India
Liminality, the Australian State and Asian Nurse Immigrants
Full text linkOver the last two decades the flow of Asians to Australia through legitimate immigration programs has accelerated. This is particularly the case for Asian nurses coming from countries that were once subjected to European colonisation. The difficulties encountered by nurses from Asian countries mirror those of earlier waves of migrants. These include navigating the language and differences in cultural mores, values, and beliefs, along with the loneliness that may come from leaving strong family ties at home. While racism has been evident for all earlier waves of migrants, Asians face an additional hurdle linked to the uneasy relationship Australians and the Australian state has with Asia. Australia is geographically in Asia, but culturally Anglo and European. The impact this might have on the working relationships of Asian and Australian born registered nurses is significant given the nature of their work in caring for the sick and elderly. This liminal relationship between the Australian state and Asians provides a theoretical insight into the particular difficulties experienced by Asian nurses and the integration programs that might assist them and their Australian colleagues to develop cohesive working relationships
An Investigation of Somali Women’s Beliefs, Practices, and Attitudes about Health, Health Promoting Behaviours and Cancer Prevention
Full text linkThis pilot study examined Somali women\u27s perception of health/access to care, examined their knowledge and attitudes about cancer prevention, and discussed strategies to improve service provision and education. Using a multidisciplinary approach, twelve face-to-face interviews were conducted with Somali women ages 18 and older, residing in a mid-western city. Open coding was used to categorize and reflect the interview statements and to identify reoccurring themes. Somali women are concerned about a variety of health issues and cited the role of culture and religion in developing prevention strategies. Participants emphasized the use of religious leaders, health care advocates, oral traditions, and translators in providing culturally appropriate health care services. Religion and culture play a prominent role in the Somali community and impact beliefs about health and wellness. Health practitioners need to work closely with individuals and community leaders to tailor services that are culturally appropriate and accessible.
Traditional Medicine in Madagascar - Current Situation and the Institutional Context of Promotion
Full text linkFollowing WHO recommandations and in order to improve medical coverage, Madagascar officially recognized in 2007 its traditional medicine as a legitimate practice.UNESCO, to sustain traditional healers in the Indian Ocean, wanted to use anthropological tools to explore the current situation in Madagascar.Despit a plurality of practices, data collected for three months in the Southeast of the Island, allowed us to identify some fundamental aspects of Malagasy traditional medicine, such as the omnipresence of symbolism or the complexity of healers’ roles at the crossroads of social, sacred and therapeutic registries.The study shows that the national policy on traditional medicine improves gradually the promotion of these practices too often undervalued. Nevertheless, the institutional context exposes weaknesses which might explain the difficulty encountered by some tradipractitioners to find their place in this new regulation. Indeed, regarding the current context, a reducing process of the healers\u27 practices is likely to emerge
Lutte Contre le Choléra, ou Contre la Culture ?
Full text linkAmong the major obstacles in the fight against the cholera epidemic in Madagascar from 1999 to 2000, the non-use of latrines and funeral rites are qualified of ‘cultural barriers’. Is it possible, necessary or desirable to change the culture of the population, or that of professionals?Parmi les principaux obstacles de la lutte contre l’épidémie de choléra à Madagascar en 1999 et 2000, la non utilisation de latrines et les rites funéraires sont qualifiés de ‘freins culturels’. Est-il possible, nécessaire et souhaitable de modifier la culture des habitants, ou celle des professionnels ?