Perception of Malaria Infection in Two Rural Communities in Nigeria
| Autor: | Igbo N. Egwu, E. N. U. Ezedinachi, M. A. Nwangwa, J. O. Charles |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 1996 |
| Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
education.field_of_study Health (social science) Traditional medicine business.industry media_common.quotation_subject Population Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health Alternative medicine Developing country General Medicine medicine.disease Focus group Education Chloroquine Perception Environmental health parasitic diseases medicine Etiology business education Malaria media_common medicine.drug |
| Zdroj: | International Quarterly of Community Health Education. 16:257-270 |
| ISSN: | 1541-3519 0272-684X |
| DOI: | 10.2190/fepb-ctm1-v87q-xrbk |
| Popis: | 16 focus group discussions conducted in two rural communities (Awi and Ikot Edem Odo) in Nigerias Cross River State revealed adequate levels of awareness of the etiology symptoms and treatment of malaria infection. In both communities discussants ranked malaria first on a list of prevalent diseases. The most frequently cited symptoms of malaria were headache high fever (children only) weakness cold loss of appetite yellow eyes yellow urine and sleepiness. The two communities agreed on a generic term for malaria: utoeyin (yellowness in the eye); utoeyin ekpo (ghost malaria) was conceptualized as a distinct type. Causes of malaria cited included mosquitoes hard work sunlight palm oil and alcohol. Insecticides bednets coils and a hygienic environment were identified as preventive measures. When malaria was present unspecified tablets chloroquine enema and traditional medicine were initial treatment responses. The formal health sector was consulted only if home-initiated measures failed. Although there were many overlapping responses the two communities differed in their ethnomedical and sociocultural perceptions of malaria. In Awi where an interstate highway runs through the community there was greater evidence of Western-influenced beliefs about malaria. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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