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Psychosocial aspects of health seeking behaviours of patients with Buruli ulcer in southern Benin
Author(s) -
Aujoulat Isabelle,
Johnson Christian,
Zinsou Claude,
Guédé Augustin,
Portaels Françoise
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3156.2003.01089.x
Subject(s) - buruli ulcer , psychosocial , medicine , focus group , qualitative research , family medicine , health care , disease , nursing , environmental health , psychiatry , sociology , pathology , political science , social science , anthropology , law
Summary We investigated cultural beliefs and psychosocial factors associated with Buruli ulcer in southern Benin in order to elaborate and deliver appropriate health education messages. We conducted a qualitative study among 130 adults and 30 children in Zou province, a highly endemic region. Focus group interviews of inhabitants, patients and their assistants, health care professionals and traditional healers took place in Dasso, Ouinhi, Sagon and Zagnanado. Drawing sessions followed by individual interviews were organized among school children in Dasso and Sagon. We found that although Buruli ulcer is well known and recognized – even at a very early stage of the disease – and perceived as threatening, most people are reluctant to seek treatment at the health care centre. They are unclear about the origin of the disease (environmental factors or sorcery) and treatment is considered devastating, expensive and ineffective in some cases.