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Medical syncretism with reference to malaria in a Tanzanian community

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  • Hausmann Muela, Susanna
  • Muela Ribera, Joan
  • Mushi, Adiel K.
  • Tanner, Marcel

Abstract

What happens when new health information is introduced into a community? We have explored this question in a semi-rural community of Southeastern Tanzania whose population has been in contact with biomedicine for many decades. With the example of malaria, we illustrate how biomedical knowledge transmitted in health messages coexists, interacts and merges with local pre-existing ideas and logics. The results are syncretic models, which may deviate considerably from what health promoters intended to transmit. Some of those may have implications for treatment of malaria, which may include delay in seeking treatment and non-compliance with therapy. Analysing this medical syncretism clearly demonstrates that even if comprehension of health messages is accurate, the way in which people interpret these messages may not be. Disentangling syncretic processes permits us to understand the dynamics of how information is processed by the recipients, and provides orientations for health promoters for adapting messages to the local context.

Suggested Citation

  • Hausmann Muela, Susanna & Muela Ribera, Joan & Mushi, Adiel K. & Tanner, Marcel, 2002. "Medical syncretism with reference to malaria in a Tanzanian community," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 55(3), pages 403-413, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:55:y:2002:i:3:p:403-413
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    Cited by:

    1. World Bank, 2006. "Timor-Leste Health Sector Review : Appendices," World Bank Publications - Reports 14898, The World Bank Group.
    2. Giovannini, Peter & Reyes-García, Victoria & Waldstein, Anna & Heinrich, Michael, 2011. "Do pharmaceuticals displace local knowledge and use of medicinal plants? Estimates from a cross-sectional study in a rural indigenous community, Mexico," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(6), pages 928-936, March.
    3. Thomas De HOOP & Luuk Van KEMPEN, 2010. "Trust In Health Providers As A Catalyst For Malaria Prevention: Heterogeneous Impacts Of Health Education In Rural Ghana," The Developing Economies, Institute of Developing Economies, vol. 48(3), pages 376-404, September.
    4. World Bank, 2005. "Health Service Delivery and Utilization in Timor-Leste : A Qualitative Study," World Bank Publications - Reports 12461, The World Bank Group.
    5. Dunn, Christine E. & Le Mare, Ann & Makungu, Christina, 2011. "Malaria risk behaviours, socio-cultural practices and rural livelihoods in southern Tanzania: Implications for bednet usage," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(3), pages 408-417, February.
    6. World Bank, 2006. "Timor-Leste Health Sector Review : Meeting Challenges and Improving Health Outcomes," World Bank Publications - Reports 14897, The World Bank Group.
    7. Kamat, Vinay R., 2006. ""I thought it was only ordinary fever!" cultural knowledge and the micropolitics of therapy seeking for childhood febrile illness in Tanzania," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(12), pages 2945-2959, June.
    8. Mukolo, Abraham & Cooil, Bruce & Victor, Bart, 2015. "The effects of utility evaluations, biomedical knowledge and modernization on intention to exclusively use biomedical health facilities among rural households in Mozambique," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 225-233.
    9. World Bank, 2005. "Health Service Delivery and Utilization in Timor-Leste : A Qualitative Study," World Bank Publications - Reports 8257, The World Bank Group.

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