title: Sociocultural dimension of epilepsy: an anthropological study among Guaraní communities in Bolivia--an International League Against Epilepsy/International Bureau for Epilepsy/World Health Organization Global Campaign against Epilepsy regional project.
abstract: This study was performed to analyze sociocultural beliefs about epilepsy among Guaraní communities in Bolivia. People with epilepsy, their family members, the general population, and local health care personnel were interviewed about the meaning of and beliefs, feelings, and practices concerning epilepsy. Epilepsy is called mano-mano, a term that means being in a constant passage between life and death. The disease is attributed mainly to a failure to observe a fasting period and to other eating habits. Natural remedies are the most recommended treatments even though half of respondents reported that antiepileptic drugs may be effective. The concept of epilepsy as an embodied disease with natural causes appears to differ from that documented in other traditional societies. People with epilepsy do not represent a threat to the community, which seems to have an attitude aimed at their protection. Moreover, people from these communities appear to favor a combination of biomedical and traditional care systems.
authors.affiliation: Department GF Ingrassia, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartoloni
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sofia
authors.forename: Florentina
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rafael
authors.forename: Donata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Magnelli
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Padilla
authors.forename: Graziella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quattrocchi
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bartalesi
authors.forename: Higinio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Segundo
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zappia
authors.forename: Pierre-Marie
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Preux
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000883:Anthropology; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001838:Bolivia / Q000453:epidemiology; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003469:Culture; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants