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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
What role do traditional beliefs play in treatment seeking and delay for buruli ulcer disease?-insights from a mixed methods study in cameroon
PLoS ONE, Volume 7, No. 5, Article e36954, Year 2012
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Description
Background: Victims of Buruli ulcer disease (BUD) frequently report to specialized units at a late stage of the disease. This delay has been associated with local beliefs and a preference for traditional healing linked to a reportedly mystical origin of the disease. We assessed the role beliefs play in determining BUD sufferers' choice between traditional and biomedical treatments. Methods: Anthropological fieldwork was conducted in community and clinical settings in the region of Ayos and Akonolinga in Central Cameroon. The research design consisted of a mixed methods study, triangulating a qualitative strand based on ethnographic research and quantitative data obtained through a survey presented to all patients at the Ayos and Akonolinga hospitals (N = 79) at the time of study and in four endemic communities (N = 73) belonging to the hospitals' catchment area. Results: The analysis of BUD sufferers' health-seeking behaviour showed extremely complex therapeutic itineraries, including various attempts and failures both in the biomedical and traditional fields. Contrary to expectations, nearly half of all hospital patients attributed their illness to mystical causes, while traditional healers admitted patients they perceived to be infected by natural causes. Moreover, both patients in hospitals and in communities often combined elements of both types of treatments. Ultimately, perceptions regarding the effectiveness of the treatment, the option for local treatment as a cost prevention strategy and the characteristics of the doctor-patient relationship were more determinant for treatment choice than beliefs. Discussion: The ascription of delay and treatment choice to beliefs constitutes an over-simplification of BUD health-seeking behaviour and places the responsibility directly on the shoulders of BUD sufferers while potentially neglecting other structural elements. While more efficacious treatment in the biomedical sector is likely to reduce perceived mystical involvement in the disease, additional decentralization could constitute a key element to reduce delay and increase adherence to biomedical treatment. © 2012 Peeters Grietens et al.
Authors & Co-Authors
Peeters-Grietens, Koen
Belgium, Antwerpen
Prins Leopold Instituut Voor Tropische Geneeskunde
Belgium, Tessenderlo
Pass International
Toomer, Elizabeth
Belgium, Tessenderlo
Pass International
Um-Boock, Alphonse
Cameroon, Yaounde
Aide Aux Lépreux Emmaüs-suisse
Hausmann-Muela, Susanna
Belgium, Tessenderlo
Pass International
Peeters, Hans
Belgium, Tessenderlo
Pass International
Belgium, Leuven
Ku Leuven
Kanobana, Kirezi
Belgium, Antwerpen
Prins Leopold Instituut Voor Tropische Geneeskunde
Gryseels, Charlotte
Belgium, Antwerpen
Prins Leopold Instituut Voor Tropische Geneeskunde
Ribera, Joan Muela
Belgium, Tessenderlo
Pass International
Statistics
Citations: 55
Authors: 8
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0036954
e-ISSN:
19326203
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Ethnographic Study
Study Approach
Qualitative
Quantitative
Mixed-methods
Study Locations
Cameroon