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01-06-2019 | Original Contribution

Health Challenges and Assets of Forest-Dependent Populations in Cameroon

Authors: Savanna L. Carson, Fabrice Kentatchime, Cyrus Sinai, Elizabeth A. Van Dyne, Eric Djomo Nana, Brian L. Cole, Hilary A. Godwin

Published in: EcoHealth | Issue 2/2019

Abstract

Indigenous populations often have poorer health outcomes than the general population. Marginalization, colonization, and migration from traditional lands have all affected traditional medicine usage, health access, and indigenous health equity. An in-depth understanding of health for specific populations is essential to develop actionable insights into contributing factors to poor indigenous health. To develop a more complete, nuanced understanding of indigenous health status, we conducted first-person interviews with both the indigenous Baka and neighboring Bantu villagers (the reference population in the region), as well as local clinicians in Southern Cameroon. These interviews elucidated perspectives on the most pressing challenges to health and assets to health for both groups, including access to health services, causes of illness, the uses and values of traditional versus modern medicine, and community resilience during severe health events. Baka interviewees, in particular, reported facing health challenges due to affordability and discrimination in public health centers, health effects due to migration from their traditional lands, and a lack of culturally appropriate public health services.

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Bantu speakers, referred to as “Bantu,” are a heterogeneous mix of agriculturalist ethnic groups in this region, including Badjoue, Nzime, Mbulu, and Fang-Nzaman.

Traditional medicine is a broad term used to define non-Western medicine including “health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being” (Fokunang et al. 2011).

We refer to public and private healthcare systems (as opposed to traditional medicine practices) in Cameroon herein as “modern medicine” [interviewee’s described modern medicine as the “clinic” (clinique) or “hospital” (hôpital)] because this term was used dominantly in the included region by both the researchers and participants in the interviews.

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Title: Health Challenges and Assets of Forest-Dependent Populations in Cameroon
Authors: Savanna L. Carson
Fabrice Kentatchime
Cyrus Sinai
Elizabeth A. Van Dyne
Eric Djomo Nana
Brian L. Cole
Hilary A. Godwin
Publication date: 01-06-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: EcoHealth / Issue 2/2019
Print ISSN: 1612-9202
Electronic ISSN: 1612-9210
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-019-01411-9

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Health Challenges and Assets of Forest-Dependent Populations in Cameroon

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Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

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