"Satanism is witchcraft's younger sibling": Changing perceptions of natural and supernatural anaemia causality in Malawian children.

ABSTRACT: In countries of sub-Saharan Africa, many children are admitted to hospital with severe forms of anaemia. The late hospital admissions of anaemic children contribute significantly to child morbidity and mortality in these countries. This qualitative study explores local health beliefs and traditional treatment practices that may hinder timely seeking of hospital care for anaemic children. In January of 2019, nine focus group discussions were conducted with 90 participants in rural communities of Malawi. The participants represented four groups of caregivers; mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers of children under the age of five. The Malawian medical landscape is comprised of formal and informal therapeutic alternatives-and this myriad of modalities is likely to complicate the hea

SUBMITTER: Svege S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8087048 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature