“Satanism is witchcraft’s younger sibling”: Changing perceptions of natural and supernatural anaemia causality in Malawian children

In countries of sub-Saharan Africa, many children are admitted to hospital with severe forms anaemia. The late admissions anaemic contribute significantly child morbidity and mortality in these countries. This qualitative study explores local health beliefs traditional treatment practices that may hinder timely seeking care for children. January 2019, nine focus group discussions were conducted 90 participants rural communities Malawi. represented four groups caregivers; mothers, fathers, grandmothers grandfathers under the age five. Malawian medical landscape is comprised formal informal therapeutic alternatives–and this myriad modalities likely complicate healthcare choices caregivers. When dealing illness, reported how they would follow a step-by-step, ‘multi-try’ pathway where combination biomedical options sought at varying time points depending on perceived cause severity symptoms. linked anaemia naturalistic (malaria, poor nutrition illnesses kakozi kapamba ), societal (the illness msempho ) supernatural or personalistic (witchcraft Satanism) causes. Most agreed due malaria should be treated hospital. As illnesses, grandparents suggested herbal offered by healers, while majority parents opt care. However, across all claimed caused witchcraft Satanism could only dealt healers prayer, respectively. multiple theories causality combined extensive use trust complementary medicine explain frequent delay admittance