She is 26 years old and has just gone through her 5th pregnancy. All previous four had ended up in ceasarian sections. She was 15years and a Junior High School student when she had her first child. She works as a petty trader and the husband is a rent collector for the district assembly. (All five pregnancies with this same man) For this pregnancy she was introduced to a Pastor of a prayer camp by a friend. According to the friend, this man of God had saved her failing marriage. Man of God is credited with other miracles including curing infertility and prophesying. She was assured that this pregnancy will not end in caesarian section. Emboldened by this assurance, she decided not to come for Antenatal care and rather spent time in the forest praying for a safe vaginal delivery. She entered into labour at term and the Pastor was quickly called. He repeated the assurance of a safe vaginal delivery and that everything was under control. Labour was prolonging inspite of the prayers, she became so weak and complained of dizziness, her mother sensing danger rushed her quickly to our hospital. She was immediately sent to theatre and ceasarian section was done. Fortunately she got her baby and has since recovered. I asked my self, why will a woman do this in the 21st century? Then I remembered my Medical Sociology Professor, though this be madness, there is a method. If you understand the method, you will understand the madness. Several factors have made this woman very gullible. She is not empowered enough, her basic education was truncated as a result of teenage pregnancy, and she find herself in a highly superstitious society where people think that it is a curse to have a caesarian section. Prof Akosa recently bemoaned the fact that our superstitious behaviour is affecting healthcare delivery. We have not come to appreciate even the basics of the gem theory of disease. The witches and wizards (I am told they are the low ranking demons in the underworld hierarchy) cause everything from disease to poverty. Will we see the end of such thinking? I pray so...
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 14:23:56 +0000
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