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Causal reasoning and the treatment of diarrhoeal disease by mothers in Kenya

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  • Patel, Vimla L.
  • Eisemon, Thomas O.
  • Arocha, JoséF.

Abstract

A study of reasoning about the cause and treatment of childhood diarrhoea by Maasai schooled and unschooled mothers was carried out in Kenya, using a method of analysis developed within cognitive psychology. A dramatic difference in the conceptual structures of mother's reasoning about both the cause and treatment of diarrhoea was found between the unschooled and schooled group. The unschooled mother's explanation of diarrhoea was in terms of illness, resulting from social and moral factors. The knowledge structures generated showed global coherence. The schooled mothers explained diarrhoea with a series of quasi-biomedical facts about the disease with little or no connections between facts. The role of understanding the underlying disease processes for learning in health education is discussed in the context of Kenyan culture.

Suggested Citation

  • Patel, Vimla L. & Eisemon, Thomas O. & Arocha, JoséF., 1988. "Causal reasoning and the treatment of diarrhoeal disease by mothers in Kenya," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 27(11), pages 1277-1286, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:27:y:1988:i:11:p:1277-1286
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    Cited by:

    1. Colvin, Christopher J. & Smith, Helen J. & Swartz, Alison & Ahs, Jill W. & de Heer, Jodie & Opiyo, Newton & Kim, Julia C. & Marraccini, Toni & George, Asha, 2013. "Understanding careseeking for child illness in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and conceptual framework based on qualitative research of household recognition and response to child diarrhoea, ," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 66-78.
    2. Thomas Owen Eisemon & Jeanne Ratzlaff & Vimla L. Patel, 1992. "Reading Instructions for Using Commercial Medicines," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 520(1), pages 76-90, March.

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