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The epidemiology of 'bewitchment' as a lay-reported cause of death in rural South Africa.
- Source :
-
Journal of epidemiology and community health [J Epidemiol Community Health] 2012 Aug; Vol. 66 (8), pp. 704-9. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Apr 22. - Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Background: Cases of premature death in Africa may be attributed to witchcraft. In such settings, medical registration of causes of death is rare. To fill this gap, verbal autopsy (VA) methods record signs and symptoms of the deceased before death as well as lay opinion regarding the cause of death; this information is then interpreted to derive a medical cause of death. In the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site, South Africa, around 6% of deaths are believed to be due to 'bewitchment' by VA respondents.<br />Methods: Using 6874 deaths from the Agincourt Health and Socio-Demographic Surveillance System, the epidemiology of deaths reported as bewitchment was explored, and using medical causes of death derived from VA, the association between perceptions of witchcraft and biomedical causes of death was investigated.<br />Results: The odds of having one's death reported as being due to bewitchment is significantly higher in children and reproductive-aged women (but not in men) than in older adults. Similarly, sudden deaths or those following an acute illness, deaths occurring before 2001 and those where traditional healthcare was sought are more likely to be reported as being due to bewitchment. Compared with all other deaths, deaths due to external causes are significantly less likely to be attributed to bewitchment, while maternal deaths are significantly more likely to be.<br />Conclusions: Understanding how societies interpret the essential factors that affect their health and how health seeking is influenced by local notions and perceived aetiologies of illness and death could better inform sustainable interventions and health promotion efforts.
- Subjects :
- Acute Disease mortality
Adolescent
Adult
Autopsy methods
Autopsy statistics & numerical data
Autopsy trends
Complementary Therapies methods
Death Certificates
Death, Sudden epidemiology
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Mozambique ethnology
Multivariate Analysis
Population Surveillance
Residence Characteristics
Socioeconomic Factors
South Africa epidemiology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Terminal Care psychology
Terminal Care statistics & numerical data
Verbal Behavior
Cause of Death
Mortality trends
Rural Population statistics & numerical data
Witchcraft psychology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1470-2738
- Volume :
- 66
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of epidemiology and community health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21515546
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2010.124305