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Indigenous representations of illness and AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa

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  • Liddell, Christine
  • Barrett, Louise
  • Bydawell, Moya

Abstract

Cultures all over the world have evolved illness representations that can accommodate not only new diseases, but also new epistemologies for explaining disease. This paper examines illness representations in Sub-Saharan Africa, and how these have responded to the emergence of AIDS. Indigenous views of illness (particularly STDs) exhibit coherent structure, in which causation, prevention and treatment relate to one another in functional ways. As an STD, an epidemic, and a disease which leads to premature death, AIDS lends itself readily to accommodation into established indigenous representations of illness. Even biomedical views of causation can be readily incorporated into traditional views of how illnesses are caused. However, biomedical and traditional views concerning prevention appear to be in direct conflict with one another, with potentially hazardous consequences. Research exploring the extent to which indigenous beliefs may be influencing people's decisions about safe sex could offer useful insights for AIDS prevention programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Liddell, Christine & Barrett, Louise & Bydawell, Moya, 2005. "Indigenous representations of illness and AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(4), pages 691-700, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:60:y:2005:i:4:p:691-700
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dongo Rémi Kouabenan, 1998. "Beliefs and the Perception of Risks and Accidents," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(3), pages 243-252, June.
    2. Kesby, Mike, 2000. "Participatory diagramming as a means to improve communication about sex in rural Zimbabwe: a pilot study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 50(12), pages 1723-1741, June.
    3. Gustav Jahoda, 1961. "Traditional Healers and Other Institutions Concerned With Mental Illness in Ghana," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 7(4), pages 245-268, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lily Kpobi & Leslie Swartz, 2018. "‘That is how the real mad people behave’: Beliefs about and treatment of mental disorders by traditional medicine-men in Accra, Ghana," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 64(4), pages 309-316, June.
    2. Friend-du Preez, Natalie & Cameron, Noël & Griffiths, Paula, 2009. "Stuips, spuits and prophet ropes: The treatment of abantu childhood illnesses in urban South Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(2), pages 343-351, January.

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