Health care practical among people with malaria in Topoyo village, Indonesia

Abstract

The study aims to describe and get an understanding of health care practiced by community members infected or indicated infected by malaria in Topoyo District, Central Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi Province. The research used ethnographic approach. The data were obtained through participant observation and in-depth interview. Informants were determined purposively for malaria sufferers who had or were infected with malaria by using the formal health care sector and snowball for those indicated to be infected with malaria by utilizing public health care and indigenous healers. The study indicates that the community members who were infected or indicated infected by malaria not only to practice health care in various ways in overcoming malaria but also to mix the elements of treatment techniques derived from scientific medical tradition and local medical tradition. The variety and mixture of health treatment are conditioned by the assumption that all types of medicines are powerful to cure illnesses. The cure for illnesses is determined by the compatibility of the drug and the blessing of God as the primary cause for the occurrence and cure of illnesses. It is also affected by different understandings, experiences, and information networks on malaria that is accessed by each actor and the attitude to respond to illness.