Malária como doença de risco: discursos e práticas em Bazuca, bairro de Xipamanine, Cidade de Maputo

Abstract

Social studies on malaria in Mozambique recognize that the contracting and treatment of this disease has a social dimension. These surveys are generally limited to assumptions sociological factors that do not always fit malaria in the interaction between political actors and the beneficiary group of policies to combat malaria. As a result, the analyzes produced in these studies, they tend to essentialize and standardize malaria as a “risk disease”. In this work I investigate praxis associated with malaria. The analysis focuses on the notion of malaria understood as a disease with a high risk of death, summarized in the expression: “risk disease.” This approach opens a space to understand how individuals assimilate and respond to health policies implemented by cleaning and spraying campaigns at home to prevent malaria. Empirical data for conducting this study were collected using interviews and field observations. I interviewed people who had and who had malaria at the time of the research as a way of learning about experiences and practices associated with the disease. I also conducted interviews with the employees of the reference health unit in Bazuca, a traditional doctor, a head of the block and a head of the 10 houses. In Bazuca, I observed informants cleaning and removing garbage on the streets. I also attended meetings where malaria was discussed among neighbors and between neighbors and health and sanitation agents. In this paper I show how the notion of malaria as a "risk disease" varies within families and among residents. This variability results from life experiences associated with malaria. For example, residents who have lost relatives and acquaintances, and people who have recurrent episodes of malaria contraction, tend to attribute different nuances to the notion of malaria as a “risk disease”, for some it is a life-threatening disease and, for others, not. because they think it is possible to live with malaria in the same way as if you have chronic diseases. It is based on these nuances that Bazooka residents organize and respond to health policies implemented in exercises such as cleaning and spraying campaigns at home to prevent malaria. (TRADUÇÃO NOSSA)