African concepts of health, disease, and treatment: an ethical inquiry.
This paper is based on the author's fieldwork experience in Edo State, Nigeria. The purpose of the article is to present and discuss African concepts of health, disease, and treatment within the framework of African Traditional Medicine (ATM). The two-fold notion of disease and treatment within the African context is also addressed. The significance of rituals and sacrifices in ATM are explained, and the interactions between ATM, African metaphysics, and cosmology are highlighted. The rules and moral precepts tenable in the practice of ATM are analyzed and discussed. The methodology employed in this study was the interviewing of African traditional healers.
Omonzejele
Peter F
PF
Department of Philosophy, University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria; Centre for Professional Ethics, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, England. pomonzejele@yahoo.com
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008273:Magic; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D009549:Nigeria; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D019423:Shamanism