The long-term impact from colonialism to the public health behaviour and healthcare utilization in Cameroon

Abstract

The management of public health has always been a very important content in every country, such as curbing the development of HIV or AIDS related diseases is an important link in promoting the healthy development of global health. However, there are still many deficiencies, especially under the influence of colonial culture. This study exploits the long-term effect of partition by two different colony authorities with using regression discontinuity design when the British and the French administrations divided the German Cameroon into their colony in 1919. Results indicated that the individuals knowledge level for preventing HIV/AIDS from the side of French is lower than the British side from 0.3% to 6%, the knowledge of avoiding injections is 4% higher from the side of French compared to the other side, and the refuse rate to take a blood test for HIV/AIDS from the French Cameroon is higher than the British side about 2.2%. This research argues that the effect from the force injection and ineffective treatment during the medical campaign in Cameroon has persisted through its impacts on mistrust of western medical services. Hence, clusters on the French side which exposed by the largest medical campaign had lower knowledge about preventing HIV/AIDS, more awareness against injections, and less trust in the medical services.