Challenges Faced by Western trained Paediatricians in Developing Countries

The Case of Paediatric Diarrhea among the Luo women of Western Kenya

Abstract

This study was carried out among the Luo of Bondo District in Western Kenya between January and April 1998. The overall objective was to find out people's perceptions of paediatric diarrhoea and the procedures involved in health seeking and maintenance behavior. The findings indicate that pediatric diarrhea (either appearing as a disease per se or as a symptom of another disease) appears in categories which include mbaha, nyaldiema, ndira, orianyancha, diarrhea due to chira, diarrhea due to evil eye (Sihoho), teething diarrhea and diarrhea due to measles (angriew, anyiew, aruodhi). Notably in this folk taxonomy, each category has either distinct or overlapping causes, symptoms, and treatments. Some of the causation theories and management procedures differ radically from the biomedical standpoint.