Filariasis in northern Ghana: Some cultural beliefs and practices and their implications for disease control

Gyapong, M.; Gyapong, J.O.; Adjei, S.; Vlassoff, C.; Weiss, M.

Filariasis in northern Ghana: Some cultural beliefs and practices and their implications for disease control

Date

1996

Authors

Abstract

This article reports on how some endemic rural communities in northern Ghana perceive and manage lymphatic filariasis. The disease was mainly attributed to supernatural and spiritual factors. Except for a few instances of neglect, the community was generally caring towards people with the disease. Issues related to marriage, stigma, concealment and leadership are discussed. On the whole, the importance of social and cultural perceptions of a disease and its relevance to control cannot be over emphasized.

Keywords

EMTREE drug terms: analgesic agent; antibiotic agent; chinese drug, EMTREE medical terms: article; cultural factor; female; filariasis; ghana; human; infection control; lymphatic system disease; major clinical study; male; marriage; neglect; rural population; social aspect, MeSH: Culture; Disease Outbreaks; Elephantiasis, Filarial; Ghana; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Leadership; Marriage; Rural Health; Socioeconomic Factors; Terminology

Citation

Gyapong, M., Gyapong, J. O., Adjei, S., Vlassoff, C., & Weiss, M. (1996). Filariasis in northern ghana: Some cultural beliefs and practices and their implications for disease control. Social Science and Medicine, 43(2), 235-242.