Citation

Einterz EM. World Health Forum 1994; 15(4): 378-381.

Affiliation

Hôpital d'Arrondissement de Kolofata, Mora, Province de l'Extrême-Nord, Cameroun.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, World Health Organization)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7999232

Abstract

In the rural Kolofata district of northern Cameroon, children are seen as an asset because they insure adequate prosperity for their family through the accomplishment of many tasks while they are young and through the care given to their elderly parents when they grow up. In this part of the world, there is an abundance of fertile land and sources of water, and housing and fuel are readily available. This area is totally undeveloped in terms of transportation, communication, health, and education (in which there is little interest). People of many ethnic groups and 3 major religions live a harmonious life steeped in tradition, cultural taboos, and sorcery. While modern methods of contraception are nonexistent here, traditional behaviors control population growth. For example, most women withhold colostrum from their infants. Women whose infants have died may withhold breast feeding altogether and provide inappropriate substitutes. A high incidence of neonatal tetanus and sepsis is exacerbated by many traditional practices such as using unsterilized millet stalk to cut the umbilical cord. Mothers spit in their babies faces to show affection, allow the babies to drink their bath water, and expose infants to dense cooking smoke. In addition, neonatal scarification and unsterile uvulectomy increase opportunities for infection. Limits to conception include extended breast feeding and polygamy. These practices which seem to be so disadvantageous may have developed to encourage the survival of only the fittest. When modern health professionals try to replace "harmful" practices with "beneficial" ones, they are greeted with skepticism. It is difficult to condemn this response, especially when the health professionals espouse population control measures to a population whose very cultural existence is already threatened. Health programs must be flexible and be guided by close, careful regard for the history, beliefs, and traditions of the people being advised, or even forced, to accept changes.

Language: en