Medical anthropology and Ebola in Congo: cultural models and humanistic care.
Seldom have medical anthropologists been involved in efforts to control high mortality diseases such as Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) This paper describes the results of two distinct but complementary interventions during the first phases of an outbreak in the Republic of Congo in 2003. The first approach emphasized understanding local peoples cultural models and political-economic explanations for the disease while the second approach focused on providing more humanitarian care of patients by identifying and incorporating local beliefs and practices into patient care and response efforts.
Hewlett
B S
BS
Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, 14204 NE Salmon Creek, Vancouver, WA 98686, USA. hewlett@vancouver.wsu.edu
Epelboin
A
A
Hewlett
B L
BL
Formenty
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000883:Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D018420:Ape Diseases / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002648:Child; D002835:Christianity; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D003223:Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D003264:Containment of Biohazards; D003469:Culture; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D005655:Funeral Rites; D005681:Gabon / Q000453:epidemiology; D006071:Gorilla gorilla / Q000821:virology; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000821:virology; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010356:Patient Isolation; D011584:Psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018599:Witchcraft; D014944:World Health Organization