Anthropological lens on the epidemiology of measles at Moletjie-Ramakgaphola in Limpopo province

Abstract

This research is a multidisciplinary study constituting both indigenous knowledge systems and medical anthropology, which focuses on people’s health and well-being and the possible cultural ways of dealing with factors influencing their health and well-being. This study aimed to explore and describe what are the views of Moletjie-Ramakgaphola community on the causes of measles. Lastly to come up with recommendations on how indigenous knowledge can be incorporated in the epidemiology of measles. The study followed a qualitative research approach. Purposive sampling was used with snowballing as a technique. Data were collected and fieldnotes were written during the interviews to record the non-verbal cues from the participants and face-to-face interviews with an interview schedule. Scientific research procedures and ethics were respected and maintained throughout the research process from the initial stage to the last. The collected data were analysed using thematic analysis. Our research findings are threefold. The first category is the terminology used in a vernacular language (Sepedi) to refer to measles. The second category is the limited knowledge by participants regarding the causes and symptoms of measles form both African and Western perspectives. The third category is the knowledge by participants on curative measures from indigenous point of view and otherwise.

Contribution: This research sought to make a scholarly contribution to the field of anthropology and indigenous knowledge systems with specific reference to the epidemiology of measles.