Percepção, cura e integração social da criança epiléptica: Um estudo do caso na zona periférica da cidade de Maputo

Abstract

The present research project fits into the anthropology of health and disease. It aims to analyze and interpret community perceptions and practices in relation to epilepsy, and the mechanisms that are adopted by families for the prevention, cure and social integration of children with epilepsy. Anthropology considers health, risk knowledge, ideas about disease prevention and appropriate treatments to be culturally constructed and interpreted phenomena. The problem of the disease constitutes the greatest challenge of human existence. Human groups have always developed a set of beliefs, knowledge and perceptions of the disease, according to their cultural matrices to conceive it, think about it, using socially constructed mechanisms to fight the disease, using different health care systems to face it. The family has a preponderant role in the decision process on the health system to resort to the prevention and cure of epilepsy, based on interpretations and belief systems and beyond. The decision-making process is also influenced by other factors such as financial, social costs, time, advice and others, with sometimes the concomitant use of more than one medical system, despite its non-integration. (TRADUÇÃO NOSSA)