Supernatural Means Research Articles

Sociodemographic predictors of beliefs about getting HIV infection by witchcraft or supernatural means: a population-based study of 15335 Senegalese women.

To provide more insights about beliefs of witchcraft and supernatural means as causes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among women in Senegal. We included eligible women from the demographic and health survey conducted in Senegal during the year 2017. We included 15335 women, of those 620 (4%) thought that they can get HIV through witchcraft or supernatural means. After the adjustment of all available covariates, old age, receiving primary or secondary education, higher wealth index, more frequency of listening to radio, watching television for less than once a week and reading newspaper or magazine for at least once a week were significantly associated with a reduction in the witchcraft and supernatural means beliefs (p < 0.05). Moreover, rural residence was associated with an increase in the wrong HIV beliefs (p < 0.05). We demonstrated many predictors of the wrong beliefs about getting HIV infection by witchcraft or supernatural means in the Senegalese women. Policymakers should initiate health educational programs in parallel with increasing the socioeconomic status to limit the HIV transmission. In addition, continuous monitoring of the HIV knowledge in the endemic countries is crucial to decrease HIV burden.

Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and associated factors among adolescent girls in Rwanda: a nationwide cross-sectional study

BackgroundLimited comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS is highlighted as one of the major factors linked to the high prevalence of HIV among adolescents and young girls. Thus, it is crucial to identify factors that facilitate or hinder adolescent girls from having comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS. We, therefore, assessed the prevalence of comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and associated factors among adolescent girls in Rwanda.MethodsWe used secondary data from the Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS) 2020 comprising 3258 adolescent girls (aged 15 to 19 years). Comprehensive knowledge was considered if an adolescent girl answered correctly all the six indicators; always using condoms during sex can reduce the risk of getting HIV, having one sexual partner only who has no other partners can reduce the risk of getting HIV, a healthy-looking person can have HIV, can get HIV from mosquito bites, can get HIV by sharing food with persons who have AIDS, and can get HIV by witchcraft or supernatural means. We, then, conducted multivariable logistic regression to explore the associated factors, using SPSS (version 25).ResultsOf the 3258 adolescent girls, 1746 (53.6%, 95%CI: 52.2–55.6) had comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Adolescent girls with secondary education (AOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.13–3.20), health insurance (AOR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.12–1.73), a mobile phone (AOR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.04–1.52), exposure to television (AOR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.05–1.44), and a history of an HIV test (AOR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.07–1.49) had higher odds of comprehensive HIV knowledge, compared to their respective counterparts. However, girls residing in Kigali (AOR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.49–0.87) and Northern (AOR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.59–0.95) regions, and those of Anglican religion (AOR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68–0.99) had less odds of comprehensive knowledge compared to those in Southern region and of the Catholic religion.ConclusionsTo increase the comprehensive understanding of the disease at a young age, the need for expanded access to HIV preventive education through formal educational curriculum, and mass and social media via mobile phones is highlighted. In addition, the continued involvement of key decision-makers and community actors, such as religious leaders, is vital.

Indexicality of Minyak Karo in North Sumatra: An Anthropolinguistic Perspective

This study aimed to describe the indexicality Minyak Karo in North Sumatera. It focused on describing the ingredients used for making the Minyak Karo, the ritual process of making Minyak Karo, the purpose of the ritual carried out in making Minyak Karo, and performance in the ritual of making Minyak Karo in Padang bulan and Pancur batu regency, North Sumatra. Qualitative method and Anthropolistic perspective were applied in this study. The data collection techniques used was observation, in-depth interviews and documentation. The result of the study showed that there were 107 genera and 57 families in making Minyak Karo to treat different diseases, such as kaffir lime/kaffir lime leaves, ship-board leaves, jambar api, bulung patchouli, gagaten tiger, basil, panglai, shallots, garlic, pepper, nutmeg, turmeric, areca nut, tawan gegeh, root areca nut, bamboo root, riman root, pengkih root, and alang-alang. The purpose of the ritual of making Minyak Karo based on anthropolingustic study was to be able to cure diseases that were believed to come from supernatural spirits or diseases sent by people through supernatural means and asked for protection from the spirits of the ancestors.

Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and associated factors among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis using the most recent demographic and health survey of each country

BackgroundWomen of reproductive age in sub-Saharan African (SSA) share the greatest burden of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV is seen as pivotal in combating the epidemic. Therefore, this study aimed to assess comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and associated factors among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa.ObjectiveTo examine comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS and associated factors among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsWe used the most recent SSA countries Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data. To assess comprehensive knowledge, a composite score of six separate questions (can get HIV by witchcraft or supernatural means, can reduce risk of getting HIV by using condoms during sex, reduce the risk of getting HIV by having one sex partner only, can get HIV from mosquito bites, can get HIV by sharing food with a person who has HIV/AIDS, and a healthy-looking person can have HIV) was used. Those who answered all six questions correctly were considered to have comprehensive knowledge. To assess the factors associated with comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS, we used a multilevel binary logistic regression model since the data had hierarchical nature.ResultsIn this study, the comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS was 38.56% (95% CI: 38.32, 38.75). Both individual and community-level factors were associated with comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Among individual-level factors, older age, having primary and above educational level, being from wealthy households, contraceptive use, listening to the radio, and reading newspaper were associated with higher odds of comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Being from urban areas and the Eastern African region were the community-level factors that were associated with higher odds of comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS.ConclusionThe study found that comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS is low. Individual and community-level factors were associated with comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Therefore, giving special attention to those young women, women who had no formal education, those from poor socioeconomic status, and those who are from remote areas could decrease the epidemics of HIV/AIDS by increasing the comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Besides, it is better to strengthen media campaigns regarding HIV/AIDS to increase comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS.

Healer or Hag? Female Medical Practitioners and Witch Accusations in 17th-Century New England

In 17th-century New England, many women provided valuable medical services to their communities without formal training as midwives and healers. They were generally well-respected by their patients and trusted to testify as medical experts in cases of paternity, rape, and witchcraft at community forums. Yet this trust was capricious; female medical practitioners could easily be accused of being witches, usually for failing to heal a patient or causing illness through supernatural means. This paper examines two women who practiced medicine and were accused of witchcraft in 17th-century New England. The details and circumstances surrounding the witchcraft accusations against Jane Hawkins of Boston, Massachusetts in 1637 and Ann Burt of Lynn, Massachusetts in 1669 are gathered from court documents, journal articles, and secondary source materials. In analysing the cases of Jane Hawkins and Ann Burt, several themes are explored to explain why early female medical practitioners tread a thin line between trusted healers and witches. In Hawkins’ case, inexplicable medical maladies were often attributed to witchcraft when a woman was involved and she did not fit Puritan ideals of how a woman should behave. In Burt’s case, an accusation of witchcraft was used by male physicians to eliminate competing female healers in a crowded medical marketplace. Both Hawkins and Burt practiced medicine in a manner that threatened the inherent power differential favouring men, leading to witchcraft accusations intending to destroy their credibility as medical practitioners.

Cunning and Disorderly: Early Nineteenth-Century Witch Trials of Joseph Smith

Cunning and Disorderly: Early Nineteenth-Century Witch Trials of Joseph Smith

Pure Means vs. Supernatural Means? On the Solidarity and Differences between Jacques Maritain and Dorothy Day

AbstractThis paper clarifies the full extent of the differences between Jacques Maritain and Dorothy Day on pacifism and anarchism in the light of their solidarity. I argue that their differences were primarily due to the particular challenges they faced in their specific vocation arising from the World War II context, and secondarily due to their different understandings of the relationship between nature and grace. While Day became drawn to a concrete heroic life of the supernatural virtues under the guidance of her spiritual director John Hugo, Maritain aimed to philosophically elucidate all the possible means available to modern Christians which may contribute to a historical realization of the Christian ideal. Their theological difference on nature and grace did not constitute a fundamental rift if taking into account the role of conscience as the essential element of a person's dignity, where the spiritual life takes shape and discernments are made. The pure means of the philosopher and the supernatural means of the saint are united in the Christian who is willing to give all for the object of their love.

Witchcraft Beliefs, Social Relations, and Development

Beliefs in witchcraft, or the ability of certain people to intentionally cause harm via supernatural means, have been documented across societies all over the world. Extensive ethnographic research on this phenomenon over the past century explored the many roles of witchcraft beliefs in communities highlighting both their social functions and detrimental consequences. Yet, empirical evidence based on systematic statistical analyses or experiments has been lacking until very recently. This chapter reviews the nascent literature on witchcraft beliefs in economics and other quantitative social sciences and summarizes the main directions and results of this research to date. The major themes discussed in the chapter include social relations, economic development, and institutions in their connection to witchcraft beliefs.

“By Supernatural Means”: Environment and Ambiguity in Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

“By Supernatural Means”: Environment and Ambiguity in Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” Benjamin Crawford Benjamin Crawford https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9929-4648 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment, isaa119, https://doi.org/10.1093/isle/isaa119 Published: 05 October 2020 Article history Received: 15 October 2018 Revision received: 18 March 2020 Editorial decision: 18 May 2020 Accepted: 15 July 2020 Published: 05 October 2020

What are the Determinants of Misconception About HIV Transmission Among Ever-Married Women in Ethiopia?

BackgroundMisconceptions are a major barrier to managing and stopping the spread of AIDS, and they cause a negative attitude towards people stricken by this serious disease that might result in grave harm to their physical and emotional spirit. This study aimed to identify determinants about misconceptions of HIV transmission among Ethiopian married women.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data set. The samples were selected using a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique. The data were analyzed with SPSS version 24. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of misconception about HIV transmission. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and P-value <0.05 were considered to declare a statistically significant association.ResultsOf the samples of 8893 reproductive-age women, 34%, 18.5%, and 14.5% of women believed that mosquito bites, food sharing with an individual who is HIV seropositive, and witchcraft or supernatural means, respectively, were responsible for the acquisition of HIV/AIDS. Women residing in rural areas (AOR=1.52; 95% CI=1.13–2.0), did not attend education (AOR=2.36; 95% CI=1.3–4.23), attended primary education (AOR=1.8; 95% CI=1.03–3.21), unemployed (AOR=1.17; 95% CI=1.04–1.37), and had no media access (AOR= 1.34; 95% CI=1.14–1.58) were positively associated with the misconception that mosquito bites can transmit HIV.ConclusionMisconceptions are highly prevalent and increase the likelihood of the HIV epidemic in Ethiopia. This research revealed that women residing in a rural area, who did not have education, did not have access to media, who were catholic and Muslim religion followers, had not ever been tested for HIV, and unemployed women were strongly associated with a misconception about HIV transmission. Therefore, interventional health education programs should be taken into account to eradicate misconceptions about HIV.

Black magic and respecting persons—Some perplexities

AbstractBlack magic (henceforth BM) is acting in an attempt to harm human beings through supernatural means. Examples include the employment of spells, the use of special curses, the burning of objects related to the purported victim, and the use of pins with voodoo dolls. For the sake of simplicity, we shall focus on attempts to kill through BM. The moral attitude towards BM has not been, as far as we know, significantly discussed in contemporary analytic philosophy. Yet the topic brings up interesting questions and poses challenges, occasionally even reaching the level of paradoxes. Ideas of respecting persons, in particular, will be seen to be challenged by this form of magic. The notion of respecting persons will be treated here broadly and pluralistically. Indeed part of the interest in the discussion will be the unfolding of the diverse ways in which this term should be understood, and the contrasts between its various uses. Often, as we shall see, respect for persons and disrespect for them, in different senses, will co‐exist, and the dilemma will be one where avoiding some forms of disrespect will involve us in disrespect in other senses.

2173-PUB: Assessment of the Knowledge and Perception of Diabetic Symptoms among Patients in a Poor Environment

Introduction/Background: Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disorder characterized by sustained hyperglycaemia due to loss of insulin secretion and/or impairment of insulin sensitivity at target tissues. More than 15.9 million people have diabetes accounting for more deaths in addition to infectious diseases in low income countries in Africa. Despite the alarming statistics the etiology and prognosis leading to the prevention and management of diabetes still lacks the needed attention and comprehensive education among patients in low income countries. Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the knowledge of causes and effects of diabetic symptoms among patients in a low income country. Method: A qualitative methodological framework focusing on participant’s illness experiences and personal beliefs about diabetes was used. We purposely recruited 30 diabetic patients who exhibited diabetic symptoms. After demographic information, each respondent completed the LANSS to ascertain neuropathy after which a semi structured interview guide was used to elicit each respondent’s view regarding diabetes. Data was transcribed and analyzed using a thematic approach. Results: Most respondents did not know their diabetic type and the precipitating factors for their diabetic symptoms. However some reported that their diabetes was spiritual and might have been contracted through bewitchment and other supernatural means. Others traced their condition to hereditary but the main causes of diabetes were generally lacking. Majority didn’t know their medications but requested for the need to have a much potent medication. Conclusion: Effective education and knowledge on the etiology, causes and prognosis of diabetes is generally lacking among patients living in poor countries. Disclosure V.A. Adzika: None.

Crossing the buffer: ontological anxiety among US evangelicals and an anthropological theory of mind

AbstractScholars describe the dominant model of mind in the United States as secular: bounded, private, supernaturally inert, and the locus for self and identity. I argue that US charismatic evangelicals live with the secular sense of a seemingly immutable boundary between the immaterial mind‐self and the material world – what Charles Taylor might call ‘boundedness’ – but at the same time, their commitment to supernatural connection means they imagine the mind‐world boundary as porous under certain circumstances: a brittle, fragile buffer between the natural and the supernatural. To allow this porosity, charismatics develop strategies for crossing the buffer, which include spoken prayer, powerful emotions, playful modes of pretend, and bodily rupture or ‘breaking in’. These strategies provide evidence that the supernatural is real. Yet practitioners remain anxious about the relationship between these supernatural experiences and the scepticism around them. This ‘ontological anxiety’ becomes visible in three ways. First, charismatics cultivate intense bodily sensations that demonstrate the reality of God. Second, they describe their experience with a ‘common‐sense realism’. Finally, charismatics are disturbed by the incoherence between their evangelical and secular impulses around the possibility of mental action.

The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in Australia

The Brazilian megachurch, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), has a global network of branches. Its Australian headquarters is a dynamic spiritual space where ideas, people, material culture and spirits are exchanged from across the globe. This article follows the journey of a single vial of oil to illustrate the global flows that take place through the UCKG Australia. With each stop the vial accrues spiritual capital before its final destination. Drawing on two years of ethnographic research, I argue that the UCKG’s global networks allow congregants access to, and enables them to pass on, spiritual capital thus providing personal agency to overcome life difficulties via supernatural means. Through this vial’s journey, I will show how global religious practices are locally lived and highlight the local spiritual significance of globally mobile religious material culture.

Hangers, Potions, and Pills: Abortion Procedures on American Television, 2008 to 2018.

Television portrayals of medical procedures may contribute to patient anxieties and cultural myths. We explored how television depicts abortion procedures, focusing on what these portrayals communicate about abortion access and safety. Researchers identified all abortion procedure plotlines on American television from 2008 to 2018 through Internet searches. We viewed plotlines and coded for type of abortion, health outcome, and whether the abortion occurred on or off screen. We used inductive content analysis to identify themes. We identified 96 television plotlines between 2008 and 2018 in which a character obtains or discloses an abortion. Of these, 39 plotlines (40%) depict some aspect of the abortion procedure. Twenty-three of the 39 abortion portrayals (59%) depict a surgical abortion procedure, of which about one-half were legal abortions and one-half were illegal. Only 7 of the 39 procedure plotlines (18%) portray medication abortions. Five of these plotlines depict illegal abortions; only two depict legal abortions. Four plotlines depict attempted abortions by supernatural means or ingestion of a toxic liquid. The majority of abortions on television are surgical, contrasting with the reality of abortion practice in which one-third of U.S. abortions are by medication. Portrayals of surgical abortion often reinforce the misperception that abortion is a surgical intervention requiring hospitalization. The few portrayals of medication abortion also perpetuate inaccuracies, including that it is easily accessible, uncommon, and dangerous. Portrayals of illegal abortions are overrepresented. This misinformation may seed unnecessary fear for patients before an abortion, and may create confusion among the public about abortion access and safety.

Selected indicators and determinants of women\u2019s health in the vicinity of a copper mine development in northwestern Zambia

BackgroundLarge projects in the extractive industry sector can affect people’s health and wellbeing. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), women’s health is of particular concern in such contexts due to potential educational and economic disadvantages, vulnerability to transactional sex and unsafe sex practices. At the same time, community health interventions and development initiatives present opportunities for women's and maternal health.MethodsWithin the frame of the health impact assessment (HIA) of the Trident copper mining project in Zambia, two health surveys were conducted (baseline in 2011 and follow-up in 2015) in order to monitor health and health-related indicators. Emphasis was placed on women residing in the mining area and, for comparison, in settings not impacted by the project.ResultsAll measured indicators improved over time, regardless of whether communities were affected by the project or not. Additionally, the percentage of mothers giving birth in a health facility, the percentage of women who acknowledge that HIV cannot be transmitted by witchcraft or other supernatural means and the percentage of women having ever tested for HIV showed a significant increase in the impacted sites but not in the comparison communities. In 2015, better health, behavioural and knowledge outcomes in women were associated with employment by the project (or a sub-contractor thereof), migration background, increased wealth and higher educational attainment.ConclusionsOur study reveals that natural resource development projects can positively impact women’s health, particularly if health risks are adequately anticipated and managed. Hence, the conduct of a comprehensive HIA should be a requirement at the feasibility stage of any large infrastructure project, particularly in LMICs. Continued monitoring of health outcomes and wider determinants of health after the initial assessment is crucial to judge the project’s influence on health and for reducing inequalities over time.

Associations between health literacy, HIV-related knowledge, and information behavior among persons living with HIV in the Dominican Republic.

To determine the health literacy levels of persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH) at a health clinic in the Dominican Republic (DR) and assess associations between health literacy, HIV-related knowledge, and health information behavior (how patients need, seek, receive, and use information). Cross-sectional, descriptive. Participants were 107 PLWH attending the Clinic. A theoretically based, 64-item survey assessing information behavior and HIV-related knowledge was administered in Spanish through individual interviews. Health literacy was assessed using the Short Assessment of Health Literacy-Spanish and English. On average, participants were 40.8years old and had lived with HIV for 7.7years. The majority (69.2%) had low health literacy. HIV-related knowledge and information behavior varied by health literacy level and uncertainty regarding a main indicator of disease progression, viral load, was demonstrated regardless of health literacy level. Participants with low health literacy were less likely to answer questions or answer questions correctly and many participants (39.2%) indicated viral transmission can occur through supernatural means. Findings demonstrate unmet information need and that information received may not always be understood. Methods to improve health education are needed to ensure patients receive health information in an understandable way.

The Mananambals and Their Functions in Philippine Culture

This qualitative study attempts to look into the practice of folk healing used by mananambals or folk healers in Iligan City, Philippines. It also looks into the functions that these traditional practitioners serve in the Philippine culture. Anchored in the functionalist theory in anthropology by Bronislaw Malinowski and supplemented by the national folklore theory by Richard Dorson, this study attempts to answer the following questions: (1) What are the backgrounds and practices of the mananambals? (2) What do the mananambals’ background and practices reveal of Filipino culture? (3) From these reflections, what functions do the mananambals have in Philippine culture? Upon analysis, it was revealed that these mananambals obtained their healing abilities through supernatural means. In terms of diagnosing illnesses, they examine certain body parts and bodily functions, but still also ask for guidance from spirit guides. They cure illnesses by using certain folk medicines, incantations, and traditional massage. For protection from harm and illnesses, they use natural means but these are accompanied by amulets and trinkets. Moreover, it was found out that for Filipinos, health and illness are deeply rooted in spiritual and folk beliefs. More importantly, these mananambals remind Filipinos&#x0D; of the value of community and spirituality.

Psycho-social and Care Delivery Challenges of HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic: Impairment of Patient Outcomes

Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to identify HIV/AIDS care delivery gaps from both caregiver and patient perspectives, in a high risk region of the Dominican Republic. Furthermore, the study hopes to establish baseline data on psychosocial issues of HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic. The study further analyzed these factors in the context of current national policies. Methods: The study, conducted at Boca Chica HIV/AIDS Clinic in the Dominican Republic, consisted of two parts: 1) a retrospective review of 300 patient clinical charts and 2) personal interviews with 52 patients, 15 physicians, 7 nurses, 5 social workers and 11 hospital administrators. Results: Major barriers to accessing care identified were patient education, training for healthcare professionals, lack of funds, transportation and inconvenient clinic hours. Over half of patients believed that supernatural means to healing could be utilized as a sole path to disease management. Only 21% indicated they had continuous access to medication. Although patients trusted the clinic in terms of confidentiality, 60% expressed a fear of inappropriate information. Social workers, physicians, and nurses identified stigmatization as a major healthcare barrier, but this view was held by only 17% of patients. Administrators identified documentation and equipment as major areas that need improvement. All 300 records were missing follow-up dates for appointments, medication histories, social histories, income information, or psychiatric histories, and 33% had no record of a physical exam. Only 62% of physicians, nurses, social workers, and medical administrators were aware of national programs that collect HIV/ AIDS information and how they function. Conclusion: Our results warrant new programs and development of a robust and coherent multidisciplinary approach to HIV/AIDS care delivery as a capacity-building national policy. Furthermore, our observations indicate that the lack of effective implementation programs add to the complexity of HIV/AIDS care services.

A re-appraisal of The Haringey London Borough Council v C (A Child), E and Another

SHROUDED GENDER AND REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES IN CHILD WELFARE AND PROTECTION PROCEEDINGSThis commentary examines the case of Haringey London Borough Council v C (a child), E and another (referred subsequently in this article as the Haringey LBC case). The case focused on child protection issues under the Children Act 1989 (the 1989 Act) arising from a UK charity’s claims that it could provide infertile couples with miracle babies through supernatural means.