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

Margaret Gyapong, John O. Gyapong, Sam Adjei, Carol Vlassoff and Mitchell Weiss

Social Science & Medicine, 1996, vol. 43, issue 2, 235-242

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: lymphatic; filariasis; elephantiasis; hydrocele; socio-cultural; perceptions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1996
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