article

The malaria cognate: folk classification of illness among the Abagusii of Kenya

African anthropology • 4 (2) • Published In 1997 • Pages: 27-34

By: Nyamongo, Isaac K..

Abstract
This paper presents data on an on-going research project among the Abagusii (Gusii) of southwestern Kenya, with a focus on people's health-care seeking behavior when suffering from malaria, a disease endemic to the region. Based on judged similarity between 16 illnesses that are common in the area, the author analyzes his data using Anthropac, a computer package for analysing qualitative information, to show that people closely link certain illnesses with malaria -- called the malaria cognate' by Nyamongo. The paper discusses how health-care seeking behavior among the Abagusii may be influenced by this judged similarity between malaria and other illnesses (p. 27).
Subjects
Morbidity
Pharmaceuticals
Theory of disease
Medical therapy
Medical care
culture
Gusii
HRAF PubDate
2000
Region
Africa
Sub Region
Eastern Africa
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Indigenous Person
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 2005
Field Date
no date
Coverage Date
not specified
Coverage Place
Suneka area, Kisi District, southwestern Kenya
Notes
Isaac K. Nyamongo
Includes bibliographical references (p. 33-34)
LCCN
95642025
LCSH
Gusii (African people)