A holistic approach to health improvement in Africa

I’ve recently embarked on an exploration of the relationship between African belief systems and their practice and perspectives of health in Africa, inspired by the book Health Knowledge and Belief Systems in Africa by Toyin Falola and Matthew M. Heaton. To not mince words—there are a LOT of health problems plaguing Africa. Lots of problems in lots of different societies. There exists such diversity in the countless societies spanning the African continent—all this diversity includes different thoughts on health care and leads to the development of different health systems. Even if there isn’t a health system entirely evident to all, every society has some form of health system. Whether it is the government run British National Health Service or going to a medicine man in rural Togo, people have a way to deal with ailments. When trying to improve health conditions in a certain society, it is important to understand the pre-existing health system and all the beliefs and practices entwined in that system.

Why is understanding traditional health systems so important?

Health is an incredibly dynamic idea. As I learned during my research on health and human rights this summer, it is incredibly hard to define, and I believe that is due to this dynamic nature. So many aspects of daily life are related to, affect, or affected by an individual’s health, how do you narrow down which of those aspects are health? What parts of our lives can be wrapped up in a nice definition of health? The WHO includes physical, mental, and social well-being in their definition of health. I think the WHO definition is much too broad for practical purposes, but it’s a nice ideal.

When trying to improve health conditions in one society—a goal I think is best met by working from within the society through local, sustainable efforts—it’s helpful to have an understanding of the populations’ current health knowledge and beliefs. Falola and Heaton begin with a distinction crucial to this discussion: “Distinguishing between knowledge and belief can be a difficult task.” First, they make the point that knowledge and belief are different. This may seem common since reading it on a blog, but when you actually start talking to people in a community, it becomes harder to distinguish between the two and even harder to determine what they see as knowledge and what as belief—and when the two are too interconnected to say. Some knowledge an outsider tries to bring, perhaps through educational public health efforts, may contest with the society’s beliefs. A global health worker can’t go into a community blind. They have to do their homework, learn about the health system in place. This means, if Google can’t help you out on this one, then when you begin work in a community stop and talk to people before you start any changes—see how best to work within the community. Africa has seen enough imperialism in her days.

The understanding of the diversity in health knowledge and beliefs existent across Africa can lead to better provision of healthcare. Beliefs affect one’s perception of healthcare and medicine and how they can help him. Beliefs affect whether one will seek medical attention for a certain ailment. Beliefs affect whether or not women will use condoms to protect themselves from disease and practice family planning. Knowledge affects the same situations. Knowledge affects whether one will be able to use condoms to protect themselves and have control over their reproductive lives. There is surely power in both realms and both demand respect.

The major I have designed in College Scholars has always had the goal of educating me about the way people live life around the world and what I need to know to best serve my patients as a doctor. From anthropology to religious studies to political science, I have been able to combine the approaches of the various disciplines to grow a greater understanding of the way people live their lives, and how this way of life affects their health. That is what this book aims to explain and explore—how all the facets fof life come together holistically to shape one’s health.