The impact of cultural limitations, local beliefs and practices on emerging parasitic diseases in tropical Africa

Abstract

In tropical African communities, the scourge of emerging parasitic diseases such as urinary schistosomiasis, ascariasis, malaria, chagas disease, leishmaniasis, trachoma, trichiuriasis, taeniasis, dracunculiasis, sleeping sickness, filariasis among others, causes tremendous pain, suffering and eventually death. The pattern of transmission of these emerging parasitic diseases in a cultural setting is regulated by a complete interplay of human factors including those, which act as effective barriers to the spread of the disease and others that enhance its promotion. A better understanding of these factors especially clinical signs, symptoms and their manifestations is necessary in determining interventions that could upset the established culture - parasite relationship in favor of limiting the spread of the disease or bringing about a cessation in its transmission. This is needed for forward planning of effective control strategies. This study highlights some of the identified cultural limitations/human behavioral patterns mitigating against prevention and control measures of diseases, discusses the nature and impact of local beliefs and some peculiar practices on emerging parasitic diseases in tropical Africa. Health education is identified as a major key factor in erasing negative beliefs, cultural practices as well as behavioral patterns, which enhances the emergence of parasitic diseases in the tropical environment.

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 1(2) 2005: 153-164