SHEtalks: Conception of illness and belief in the supernatural: A threat to public health?

In some societies across the globe, including in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, misfortunes such as illness, infertility, accidents, and death may be considered to be the result of exposure to supernatural powers.

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Witchcraft and its implications on governance

These powers are typically branded as “witchcraft”. In particular, diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, dementia, schizophrenia, and COVID-19 may be typically attributed to acts of witchcraft. How individuals and groups interpret and conceptualize their illness, determine how, for what, and why they may seek treatment, including from whom.

While modern biomedical and supernatural understandings co-exist and provide distinct and complementary explanation models for illness locally, global health policy and practice, as well as educational programs, require a more nuanced awareness of such co-existence and its implications.

Our empirical focus is Malawi, and we will present the preliminary findings from an ongoing study of witchcraft and its implications on governance.

Speakers

Johanna Sofia Adolfsson is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Centre for Development and Environment.

Dan Banik is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Oslo SDG. He is also a researcher in SHE. 

What is SHEtalks

All SHEtalks are public events. SHEtalks are research lunch lectures, and a collaboration between KNOWIT and SHE. 

How to participate in the SHEtalks

If you are interested in joining, please send an email to Trine Kleven trine.kleven@medisin.uio.no

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Publisert 14. okt. 2022 15:17 - Sist endret 17. okt. 2022 12:57