Axé! Santé, maladie et soins dans les terreiros de Candomblé de Bahia

Cet article analyse les significations et pratiques sur le corps, la santé, la maladie et le soin, ainsi que les hiérarchies et dynamiques de transmission de connaissances ancestrales dans quatre maisons de culte (terreiros) de candomblé localisées dans la ville de Salvador et ses environs (Bahia, Brésil). Les terreiros se différencient de par leur taille, le profil des chefs de culte (hommes ou femmes), la forme de succession et d’ancestralité ou « nation » (Angola, Ketu, Jeje). Les incursions ethnographiques nous ont permis d’approcher des cosmologies pour lesquelles les causes des souffrances doivent être cherchées à l’intérieur même des personnes et dans leurs relations avec le monde et la nature. De ce fait, les pratiques thérapeutiques impliquent une relation d’interaction et de négociation entre sujets malades et agents de guérison. Pour le candomblé, le bien-être ou la santé s’atteint par la rénovation permanente de l’axé, principe de vie ou énergie vitale qui relie les personnes aux orixás, à la famille, à la nature, aux ancêtres, et dénote également une appartenance. Les prières, les rituels, les fêtes, les nourritures sacrées, les offrandes, entre autres pratiques observées dans les terreiros, visent à cultiver et renouveler l’axé

A gente vive pra cuidar da população: estratégias de cuidado e sentidos para a saúde, doença e cura em terreiros de candomblé

Studies which explore the relations between religion and health have been showing that one of the main reasons for joining a religious institution is the quest for health care. Therefore, the choice of religious healing is influenced by previous experiences of success or by the bond with a system of beliefs that regulates social life, including health care practices. This study explores the connections between religiousness and ethnic identity in a popular neighborhood in Salvador that is characterized by its religious plurality. The main goal of the research was to investigate the relations between the cosmology of Candomblé and the conceptions and practices of health care. To accomplish this goal, it was also important to understand the social organization of Candomblé and the worldview shared by its members. It is an ethnographic study developed through participant observation and semi-structured interviews.Os estudos que exploram a interface entre religião e saúde demonstram que, entre as motivações que orientam a filiação religiosa, figura de modo destacado a busca de soluções para aflições e enfermidades. A terapêutica religiosa constitui assim uma das alternativas de cura, cuja adesão por parte de seus seguidores é influenciada, entre outros fatores, por experiências individuais ou coletivas de sua eficácia e/ou pela fidelidade a uma religião que regulam a vida em geral, incluindo as condutas relativas ao cuidado com o corpo, com a saúde etc. Este estudo explora as inter-relações entre saúde, religiosidade e identidade étnica em um bairro popular de Salvador, marcado pelo pluralismo religioso. Ao investigar as narrativas de famílias afrodescendentes membros do candomblé, busca-se compreender a relação entre a cosmologia religiosa do candomblé e as concepções e práticas de saúde e doença e cuidado. Para atingir essa compreensão, é preciso também apreender modos de organização social, crenças, visão de mundo e práticas no universo do candomblé, detendo-se especialmente nos aspectos associados com o complexo saúde-doença-cuidado. Trata-se de um estudo etnográfico desenvolvido através da observação participante e de entrevistas semi-estruturadas

Indigenous engagement in health: lessons from Brazil, Chile, Australia and New Zealand

Background: Given the persistence of Indigenous health inequities across national contexts, many countries have adopted strategies to improve the health of Indigenous peoples. Governmental recognition of the unique health needs of Indigenous populations is necessary for the development of targeted programs and policies to achieve universal health coverage. At the same time, the participation of Indigenous peoples in decision-making and program and policy design helps to ensure that barriers to health services are appropriately addressed and promotes the rights of Indigenous peoples to self-determination.&nbsp;Due to similar patterns of Indigenous health and health determinants across borders, there have been calls for greater global collaboration in this field. However, most international studies on Indigenous health policy link Anglo-settler democracies (Canada, Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand and the United States), despite these countries representing a small fraction of the world&rsquo;s Indigenous people.Aim: This paper examines national-level policy in Australia, Brazil, Chile and New Zealand in relation to governmental recognition of differential Indigenous health needs and engagement with Indigenous peoples in health. The paper aims to examine how Indigenous health needs and engagement are addressed in national policy frameworks within each of the countries in order to contribute to the understanding of how to develop pro-equity policies within national health care systems.Methods: For each country, a review was undertaken of national policies and legislation to support engagement with, and participation of, Indigenous peoples in the identification of their health needs, development of programs and policies to address these needs and which demonstrate governmental recognition of differential Indigenous health needs. Government websites were searched as well as the following databases: Google, OpenGrey, CAB Direct, PubMed, Web of Science and WorldCat.Findings: Each of the four countries have adopted international agreements regarding the engagement of Indigenous peoples in health. However, there is significant variation in the extent to which the principles laid out in these agreements are reflected in national policy, legislation and practice. Brazil and New Zealand both have established national policies to facilitate engagement. In contrast, national policy to enable engagement is relatively lacking in Australia and Chile. Australia, Brazil and New Zealand each have significant initiatives and policy structures in place to address Indigenous health. However, in Brazil this is not necessarily reflected in practice and although New Zealand has national policies these have been recently reported as insufficient and, in fact, may be contributing to health inequity for Māori. In comparison to the other three countries, Chile has relatively few national initiatives or policies in place to support Indigenous engagement or recognise the distinct health needs of Indigenous communities.Conclusions: The adoption of international policy frameworks forms an important step in ensuring that Indigenous peoples are able to participate in the formation and implementation of health policy and programs. However, without the relevant principles being reflected in national legislature, international agreements hold little weight. At the same time, while a national legislative framework facilitates the engagement of Indigenous peoples, such policy may not necessarily translate into practice. Developing multi-level approaches that improve cohesion between international policy, national policy and practice in Indigenous engagement in health is therefore vital. Given that each of the four countries demonstrate strengths and weaknesses across this causal chain, cross-country policy examination provides guidance on strengthening these links.</div

Sickle Cell Disease in Bahia, Brazil: The Social Production of Health Policies and Institutional Neglect

A disease is considered neglected when it is not given due priority in health policies despite the social relevance of that disease, either in terms of the number of individuals affected by it or its morbidity or mortality. Although the causes are structural, neglect in health does not occur in a vacuum. In this paper, we explore how sickle cell disease (SCD) is constructed and neglected in Brazil, based on insights from our long-term participatory qualitative research in the state of Bahia. We present five overarching themes relevant to the social production of SCD, and associated health policies in Brazil: (1) The achievements and setbacks to overcome neglect in SCD, (2) Continuity of comprehensive SCD care; (3) Social movements of people with SCD; (4) Biocultural citizenship; and (5) Academic advocacy. We conclude that it is insufficient to merely recognize the health inequities that differentiate white and black populations in Brazil; racism must be understood as both a producer and a reproducer of this process of neglect. We conclude with a set of recommendations for the main SCD stakeholder groups committed to improving the lives of people living with SCD

Teaching social and human sciences in the collective health undergraduate course: between challenges and opportunities for transgressions

The implementation, from 2009, of the undergraduate course on collective health (GSC) in Brazil and its progressively dissemination has brought to the surface old epistemological, practical or politicalinstitutional issues, and led to the emergence of others. Above all, it should be noted that this new undergraduate course puts once again in the center of the debate the question of the collective health identity or, rather, the specificities of its objects, actors, knowledge and practices. After all, both the pedagogical projects (student’s profile, curricular structure etc.) as its modus operandi reflect a given conception of the field. This article discusses the singularities and challenges of teaching social and human sciences in the undergraduate course in collective health, considering these elements through the analysis of a particular course or, better said, the sharing of experiences and impressions of the authors that integrate its academic staff. In the first part of the article, arguments are presented in defense of the emancipatory formation and multiuniversity knowledge, supported by the dialogue with Boaventura de Souza Santos. It is considered that such perspectives are especially welcome in undergraduate collective health, which has proved to be a useful space for experimenting new ways of acting in education and health.A implantação, em 2009, do curso de graduação em saúde coletiva (GSC) no Brasil e sua progressiva disseminação trouxe à tona velhas questões de ordem epistemológica, prática ou político-institucional relacionadas ao ensino das ciências sociais e humanas (CSH) nesse contexto e fez emergir outras. Sobretudo, esse novo curso recoloca no centro do debate a questão da identidade do campo da saúde coletiva ou as especificidades de seus objetos, atores/ agentes, conhecimentos e práticas. Afinal, tanto os projetos pedagógicos (perfil de egresso, estrutura curricular etc.) quanto seu modus operandi refletem uma dada concepção do campo. Propõe-se, neste artigo, discutir peculiaridades e desafios do ensino das CSH na GSC, considerando esses elementos a partir da análise da experiência de um curso em particular ou, melhor dito, do compartilhamento de vivências e impressões das autoras que integram seu corpo docente. Na primeira parte do texto, são esboçados argumentos em defesa da formação emancipatória e do conhecimento pluriuniversitário, apoiados no diálogo com Boaventura de Souza Santos. Entende-se que tais perspectivas são especialmente bem-vindas na GSC, a qual tem se revelado um espaço profícuo de experimentação de novas formas de agir na educação e na saúde

Acessibilidade à atenção básica a famílias negras em bairro popular de Salvador, Brasil

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the accessibility of primary health care for black families from a poor neighbourhood. METHODS: Ethnographic study with an interpretative anthropological approach, carried out with 18 families selected from a poor neighbourhood of Salvador, Northeastern Brazil, over a period of two years. Criteria for inclusion included being resident in the neighbourhood and classifying themselves as black. The analysis was based on interpretative anthropology and encompassed the following categories: ethnic and racial self-reference; experience of discrimination from public services; perception of accessibility to primary health care and barriers to accessibility. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We identified the following aspects: a) ethnic and racial identity and health: the users' perception that organizational barriers and barriers to access are due to the wider social context which produces "first class" and "second class" citizens, rather than due to institutional racism; b) the accessibility of the Brazilian National Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, SUS): difficult access, delays in being seen, lack of commitment on the part of health professionals, no management action taken to manage or improve these situations; c) accessibility of primary health care; overall vision of the context of the SUS and support in the interviewees descriptions of access to primary health care. CONCLUSIONS: There are economic, organizational and cultural barriers to access which come between the service provided and effective care for the needs of the population of this study.OBJETIVO: Analizar el acceso de familias negras de comunidad popular a los servicios de atención básica de salud MÉTODOS: Estudio etnográfico, basado en antropología de base interpretativa, realizado con 18 familias seleccionadas de una comunidad popular de Salvador, BA, Brasil, en período de dos años. Los criterios de inclusión fueron residencia en la comunidad y auto-clasificación como negros. El análisis se basó en la antropología interpretativa y consideró las categorías: autoreferencia étnico-racial; experiencias de discriminación en los servicios; percepción sobre acceso en la atención básica; y barreras de acceso. RESULTADOS Y DISCUSIÓN: Se identificaron los siguientes aspectos: a) identidad étnico-racial y salud: percepción de los usuarios de que las barreras organizacionales y de acceso se deben a un amplio contexto social que produce ciudadanos "de primera y de segunda categorías", mas que el racismo institucional; b) acceso al Sistema Único de Salud Brasileño (SUS): acceso problemático, caracterizado por demora en la atención, falta de compromiso de los profesionales de salud, omisión de los gestores en el control y corrección de tales situaciones; c) acceso a la atención básica: visión sobre el contexto más general del SUS y apoyo en la descripción de los entrevistados sobre el acceso a los servicios de atención básica CONCLUSIONES: Hay barreras de acceso económicas, organizacionales y culturales que se interponen entre la oferta de servicios y la atención efectiva y oportuna de las necesidades de la población estudiada.OBJETIVO: Analisar a acessibilidade de famílias negras de bairro popular aos serviços de atenção básica à saúde. MÉTODOS: Estudo etnográfico, ancorado na antropologia de base interpretativa, realizado com 18 famílias selecionadas de um bairro popular de Salvador, BA, no período de dois anos. Os critérios de inclusão foram residência no bairro e autoclassificação como negros. A análise se baseou na antropologia interpretativa e considerou as categorias: autorreferência étnico-racial; experiências de discriminação nos serviços; percepção sobre acessibilidade na atenção básica; e barreiras de acessibilidade. RESULTADOS E DISCUSSÃO: Identificaram-se os seguintes aspectos: a) identidade étnico-racial e saúde: percepção dos usuários de que as barreiras organizacionais e de acesso se devem a um amplo contexto social que produz cidadãos "de primeira e de segunda categorias", mais do que a um racismo institucional; b) acessibilidade no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS): acesso problemático, permeado pela demora no atendimento, falta de compromisso dos profissionais de saúde, omissão dos gestores no controle e correção dessas situações; c) acessibilidade na atenção básica: visão sobre o contexto mais geral do SUS e apoio na descrição dos entrevistados sobre o acesso aos serviços de atenção básica. CONCLUSÕES: Há barreiras de acessibilidade econômicas, organizacionais e culturais que se interpõem entre a oferta de serviços e o atendimento efetivo e oportuno das necessidades da população estudada

Community engagement in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis research in Brazil, Ethiopia, and Sri Lanka: A decolonial approach for global health.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic skin disease endemic in at least 88 countries where it presents an urgent, albeit often "neglected" public health problem. In this paper, we discuss our model of decolonial community engagement in the ECLIPSE global health research program, which aims to improve physical and mental health outcomes for people with CL. The ECLIPSE program has four interlinked phases and underpinning each of these phases is sustained and robust community engagement and involvement that guides and informs all activities in ECLIPSE. Our decolonial approach implies that the model for community engagement will be different in Brazil, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka. Indeed, we adopt a critical anthropological approach to engaging with community members and it is precisely this approach we evaluate in this paper. The data and material we draw on were collected through qualitative research methods during community engagement activities. We established 13 Community Advisory Groups (CAGs): in Brazil ( = 4), Ethiopia ( = 6), and Sri Lanka ( = 3). We identified four overarching themes during a thematic analysis of the data set: (1) Establishing community advisory groups, (2) CAG membership and community representation, (3) Culturally appropriate and context-bespoke engagement, and (4) Relationships between researchers and community members. During our first period of ECLIPSE community engagement, we have debunked myths (for instance about communities being "disempowered"), critiqued our own practices (changing approaches in bringing together CAG members) and celebrated successes (notably fruitful online engagement during a challenging COVID-19 pandemic context). Our evaluation revealed a gap between the exemplary community engagement frameworks available in the literature and the messy, everyday reality of working in communities. In the ECLIPSE program, we have translated ideal(istic) principles espoused by such community engagement guidance into the practical realities of "doing engagement" in low-resourced communities. Our community engagement was underpinned by such ideal principles, but adapted to local sociocultural contexts, working within certain funding and regulatory constraints imposed on researchers. We conclude with a set of lessons learned and recommendations for the conduct of decolonial community engagement in global health research. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2022 Polidano, Parton, Agampodi, Agampodi, Haileselassie, Lalani, Mota, Price, Rodrigues, Tafere, Trad, Zerihun and Dikomitis.

Community engagement in cutaneous leishmaniasis research in Brazil, Ethiopia, and Sri Lanka : a Decolonial approach for global health

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic skin disease endemic in at least 88 countries where it presents an urgent, albeit often “neglected” public health problem. In this paper, we discuss ourmodel of decolonial community engagement in the ECLIPSE global health research program, which aims to improve physical and mental health outcomes for people with CL. The ECLIPSE program has four interlinked phases and underpinning each of these phases is sustained and robust community engagement and involvement that guides and informs all activities in ECLIPSE. Our decolonial approach implies that the model for community engagement will be different in Brazil, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka. Indeed, we adopt a critical anthropological approach to engaging with community members and it is precisely this approach we evaluate in this paper. The data andmaterial we draw on were collected through qualitative research methods during community engagement activities. We established 13 Community Advisory Groups (CAGs): in Brazil (n = 4), Ethiopia (n = 6), and Sri Lanka (n = 3). We identified four overarching themes during a thematic analysis of the data set: (1) Establishing community advisory groups, (2) CAG membership and community representation, (3) Culturally appropriate and context-bespoke engagement, and (4) Relationships between researchers and community members. During our first period of ECLIPSE community engagement, we have debunked myths (for instance about communities being “disempowered”), critiqued our own practices (changing approaches in bringing together CAG members) and celebrated successes (notably fruitful online engagement during a challenging COVID-19 pandemic context). Our evaluation revealed a gap between the exemplary community engagement frameworks available in the literature and the messy, everyday reality of working in communities. In the ECLIPSE program, we have translated ideal(istic) principles espoused by such community engagement guidance into the practical realities of “doing engagement” in low-resourced communities. Our community engagement was underpinned by such ideal principles, but adapted to local sociocultural contexts, working within certain funding and regulatory constraints imposed on researchers. We conclude with a set of lessons learned and recommendations for the conduct of decolonial community engagement in global health research.peer-reviewe