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Situated knowledge of pathogenic landscapes in Ghana: Understanding the emergence of Buruli ulcer through qualitative analysis

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  • Tschakert, Petra
  • Ricciardi, Vincent
  • Smithwick, Erica
  • Machado, Mario
  • Ferring, David
  • Hausermann, Heidi
  • Bug, Leah

Abstract

Successfully addressing neglected tropical diseases requires nuanced understandings of pathogenic landscapes that incorporate situated, contexualized community knowledge. In the case of Buruli ulcer (BU), the role of social science is vital to investigate complex human–environment interactions and navigate different ways of knowing. We analyze a set of qualitative data from our interdisciplinary project on BU in Ghana, drawing from participatory mapping, focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews, and open-ended survey questions to explore how people in endemic and non-endemic areas see themselves embedded in changing environmental and social landscapes. We pay particular attention to landscape disturbance through logging and small-scale alluvial gold mining. The results from our participatory research underscore the holistic nature of BU emergence in landscapes, encapsulated in partial and incomplete local descriptions, the relevance of collective learning to distill complexity, and the potential of rich qualitative data to inform quantitative landscape-disease models.

Suggested Citation

  • Tschakert, Petra & Ricciardi, Vincent & Smithwick, Erica & Machado, Mario & Ferring, David & Hausermann, Heidi & Bug, Leah, 2016. "Situated knowledge of pathogenic landscapes in Ghana: Understanding the emergence of Buruli ulcer through qualitative analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 160-171.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:150:y:2016:i:c:p:160-171
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.12.005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Giles-Vernick, Tamara & Owona-Ntsama, Joseph & Landier, Jordi & Eyangoh, Sara, 2015. "The puzzle of Buruli ulcer transmission, ethno-ecological history and the end of “love” in the Akonolinga district, Cameroon," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 20-27.
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    2. Samuel Kwasi Opoku & Walter Leal Filho & Fudjumdjum Hubert & Oluwabunmi Adejumo, 2021. "Climate Change and Health Preparedness in Africa: Analysing Trends in Six African Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-29, April.
    3. Gaddy, Hampton Gray, 2020. "Using local knowledge in emerging infectious disease research," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    4. Nhi Nguyen & Bryan Boruff & Matthew Tonts, 2018. "Fool’s Gold: Understanding Social, Economic and Environmental Impacts from Gold Mining in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-22, April.

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