Cultural epidemiology of malaria-related illness affecting children and pregnant women in Ghana

• Forschungsstelle: TPH
• Projektnummer: 7.03
• Projekttitel Englisch: Cultural epidemiology of malaria-related illness affecting children and pregnant women in Ghana

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Malaria, childhood mortality, maternal and child health, cultural epidemiology, medical anthropology, illness behaviour

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

Community study of malaria in rural Ghana is concerned with sociocultural determinants of childhood morbidity and mortality. Cultural epidemiological study of the caretakers of children with malaria and pregnant women examines determinants of behaviours that promo-te or limit mortality.

Projektziele (Englisch)

Specific objectives include the following:

(1) Explain childhood malaria-related illness in terms of experience meaning and behaviour from caretakers of children who have or have had malaria related illness

(2) Clarify malaria-related illness experience, meaning and behaviour from selected non-affected general population

(3) Clarify malaria-related illness experience, meaning and behaviour in pregnancy from non-affected pregnant women and non affected general population.

Abstract (Englisch)

Malaria is a major health problem in tropical Africa and the situation is getting worse. The malaria situation in Ghana is typical of tropical African countries. The research involves ethnographic study using qualitative methods and the use of an adapted EMIC interviews. The study should clarify the cultural epidemiology of malaria at representative sites in Ghana, and indicate strategies to promote timely preventive and help-seeking behaviour that minimizes illness progression and mortality.

Publikationen / Ergebnisse (Englisch)

1. Ahorlu C (2005) Cultural epidemiology for malaria control in Ghana. PhD Thesis. University of Basel.
2. Ahorlu CK, Koram KA, Ahorlu C, de Savigny D, Weiss MG (2005) Community concepts of malaria-related illness with and without convulsions in southern Ghana. Malar J 4:47 (27 Sep).
3. Ahorlu CK, Koram KA, Ahorlu C, de Savigny D, Weiss MG (2006) Sociocultural determinants of treatment delay for childhood malaria in southern Ghana. Trop Med Int Health 11(7):1022-1031.
4. Ahorlu CK, Koram KA, Weiss MG (2007) Children, Pregnant Women and the Culture of Malaria in Two Rural Communities of Ghana. Anthropology and Medicine 14(2):167-181.