• NEO-MEDICAL PRACTICE AND DISEASE CONTROL IN GHANA: PERSPECTIVES ON ATIWA DISTRICT (1960–2010)

    Author(s):
    Samuel Adu-Gyamfi (see profile) , Samuel Kwame Ampadu, Razak Mohammed Gyasi, Richard Oware
    Date:
    2018
    Subject(s):
    Public health, Public history, Social history, History, Anthropology
    Item Type:
    Article
    Tag(s):
    history of public health
    Permanent URL:
    http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/0vvr-a587
    Abstract:
    Using a qualitative research approach, this study focuses on the major medical systems; traditional and western medical practices in the Atiwa District of Ghana from 1960 to 2010 with particular emphasis on western medicine. The people of Atiwa District accessed the two medical systems to combat diseases and also to ensure a healthy life. Before the advent of western medical practice in the Atiwa District, people travelled to Nkawkaw, Koforidua, and Kyebi for medical treatment. Upon the establishment of health centres and hospitals with related impediments, that is, lack of access to health facilities due to long distance, bad roads and low levels of finance from the indigenous population among other things, the local population were not entirely convinced from discontinuing to access the services of traditional medical practitioners in addition to these basic neo-medical facilities. Diseases that were common among the people were malaria, skin diseases and stomach pains among others. However, new and different diseases in other regions also gradually infected the people within the district. They include cerebro-spinal meningitis (CSM), tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS among others within the period under review.
    Notes:
    It has been argued that Hippocrates and other Greek doctors had the belief that the work of the priest should be separated from that of a physician (Risse, 1993; Ronan, 1982). It was the belief in medical care that observation of a patient was an essential tool, so practitioners examined patients accompanied with a longer period of observation and kept records.
    Metadata:
    xml
    Published as:
    Journal article     Show details
    Publisher:
    Romanian Sociological Society
    Pub. Date:
    2018
    Journal:
    Romanian Journal of Sociological Studies, New Series
    Volume:
    2018
    Issue:
    2
    Page Range:
    159 - 183
    ISSN:
    2558 - 9962 (Online), 2457-6158
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    3 years ago
    License:
    All Rights Reserved
    Share this:

    Downloads

    Item Name: pdf neo-medical-practices.pdf
      Download View in browser
    Activity: Downloads: 153

    Back to Deposits