People with Dementia in Sub-Saharan Africa: From Support to Abuse by Caregivers: Results of EPIDEMCA-FU Program in Congo.
Dementia
Informal caregivers
Stigma
Sub-Saharan Africa
Traditional healers
Journal
Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders extra
ISSN: 1664-5464
Titre abrégé: Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 101564825
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Historique:
received:
16
02
2018
accepted:
04
05
2018
entrez:
18
5
2019
pubmed:
18
5
2019
medline:
18
5
2019
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Dementia is an emerging public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In SSA, the stigma suffered by people with dementia (PWD) can be strongly linked to pejorative social representations, interfering in social relationships with informal caregivers. The objective of the study was to analyze the consequences of social representations of PWD in social interactions with informal caregivers. A qualitative study was conducted in Republic of Congo among 93 interviewees. Nondirectional interviews were conducted in local languages and complemented by participating observations. The collected data were transcribed literally, synthesized, and then coded to allow extraction and organization of text segments. Informal caregivers, daughters-in-laws, were considered as abusers and granddaughters as benevolent. The leaders of syncretic churches and traditional healers were the first therapeutic itineraries of PWD, due to pejorative social representations of disease. Of these, some PWD have appeared at front of a customary jurisdiction for accusations of witchcraft. Dementia, perceived as a mysterious disease by informal caregivers, wasn't medicalized by leaders of syncretic churches, traditional healers, nurses, or general practitioners. Conclusion: Stigma, generated by social representations, can change the patient's behavior and the one of informal caregivers, leading to time delay in the search for appropriate help.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND/AIMS
OBJECTIVE
Dementia is an emerging public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In SSA, the stigma suffered by people with dementia (PWD) can be strongly linked to pejorative social representations, interfering in social relationships with informal caregivers. The objective of the study was to analyze the consequences of social representations of PWD in social interactions with informal caregivers.
METHODS
METHODS
A qualitative study was conducted in Republic of Congo among 93 interviewees. Nondirectional interviews were conducted in local languages and complemented by participating observations. The collected data were transcribed literally, synthesized, and then coded to allow extraction and organization of text segments.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Informal caregivers, daughters-in-laws, were considered as abusers and granddaughters as benevolent. The leaders of syncretic churches and traditional healers were the first therapeutic itineraries of PWD, due to pejorative social representations of disease. Of these, some PWD have appeared at front of a customary jurisdiction for accusations of witchcraft. Dementia, perceived as a mysterious disease by informal caregivers, wasn't medicalized by leaders of syncretic churches, traditional healers, nurses, or general practitioners. Conclusion: Stigma, generated by social representations, can change the patient's behavior and the one of informal caregivers, leading to time delay in the search for appropriate help.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31097954
doi: 10.1159/000489846
pii: dee-0009-0163
pmc: PMC6489057
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
163-175Références
Int Psychogeriatr. 1996;8 Suppl 3:497-500
pubmed: 9154615
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2004 May;59(3):S128-37
pubmed: 15118018
Australas Psychiatry. 2012 Oct;20(5):438-41
pubmed: 23014122
Geriatr Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil. 2012 Sep;10(3):297-305
pubmed: 23015238
Sante Publique. 2012 Mar-Apr;24(2):143-56
pubmed: 22789119
Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra. 2012 Jan;2(1):84-96
pubmed: 22619665
Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2003 Jan;18(1):1-6
pubmed: 12497550
Age Ageing. 2017 Jan 4;46(1):130-137
pubmed: 28181644
Rev Med Brux. 2005 Sep;26(4):S344-9
pubmed: 16240885
Braz J Psychiatry. 2012 Dec;34(4):405-12
pubmed: 23429811
Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016 Nov;31(11):1254-1255
pubmed: 27018503
Springerplus. 2014 Jul 03;3:338
pubmed: 25045613
BMC Public Health. 2014 Mar 19;14:260
pubmed: 24642112
Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil. 2004 Mar;2(1):49-66
pubmed: 15683969
Age Ageing. 2012 Sep;41(5):581-6
pubmed: 22826292