Naturalistic Theories of Illness Causation in Bapedi Culture

Description

Page: 538-541

Sejabaledi A. Rankoana (Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Limpopo, South Africa)

Understanding the naturalistic systems of illness causation is imperative in a society that suffers a variety of ill-health conditions some of which are without a known cause. This study is necessary, especially in a rural community whose livelihood and beliefs about health and well-being are determined by local environmental conditions. The study describes naturalistic systems of illness causation of Bapedi of Limpopo Province in South Africa. The research utilised a qualitative ethnographic approach that was guided by Murdock’s theory of illness causation. In-depth interviews were conducted with a sample of 95 key informants. A description of the naturalistic systems of illness causation provides associations of illness with unfavourable climatic conditions such as change of season and change in the movement of celestial bodies. These natural processes are regarded as being responsible for most of the illnesses regarded as natural by Bapedi. Such illnesses include the common cold, flu, cough fever, and whooping cough. Bapedi naturalistic theory of illness causation is similar to that of the Murdock theory of illness causation in that community members conceive the natural environment as a determinant of good health and well-being as its elements are linked to ill-health causation. This model could be adopted in biomedical health care to understand and support patients’ beliefs about illness causation.