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S. Olusola
Aluko - Arowolo
Olabisi Onabanjo University

 

     

The Neglect of Traditional Etiological Explanation of Disease Causation in the Sub - Saharan Africa: Exploring the Medico - Spiritual and Historical Origin of Malaria Disease

Society and health are inextricably interwoven. This is to say that the social institution and structures in place in any society invariably determine the type and nature of ill - health, disease causation and specific health care delivery. In other words, it is through the society and underpinning norms that initiatives for prevention, cure or treatment would emanate. Suffice to say that, the prevalence of malaria and other life threatening diseases in Sub - Sahara Africa are still very potent and destructive due to obvious neglect in the explanation of its historical antecedent. Malaria fever as a disease is far more than a question of body temperature, discomfort, or germ theory. It is a condition in which the whole person, group, or society is being re - ordered. For instance, 30,000 children are lost every year in Nigeria and 4,500 pregnant women are dying each year due to its scourge. To grasp the nitty - gritty of the study therefore, the study shall be undertaken through in depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and case study with specific individuals whose preoccupation is to prevent, diagnose and treat the occurrence in the first instance and genera public through the FGDs to elicit their understanding ,knowledge, attitude and lines of prevention and treatment open to them
Within this scope it is of opinion that malaria mortality/morbidity rise and fall during the seasons I.e. dry/hot and rain/wet shall be critically analysed. Finally,records shall be taken of other environmental causative agents.This is to help in bring to fore the method of treatment and cure.


Africa Conference 2005: African Health and Illness
Convened by Dr. Toyin Falola for the Center for African and African American Studies
Coordinated by Matthew Heaton Webmaster, Technical Coordinator: Sam Saverance