CULTURAL FACTORS IN

HEALTH AND DISEASE

Dr. Vijay B. Lambole
Asso. Professor

INTRODUCTION

• ALL PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN BEILEFS WEATHER RURAL OR URBAN
• NOT ALL THE COUSTOMS AND BELIEFS ARE BAD
• SOME CULTURES ARE USEFUL AND SOME CULTURES ARE USELESS
• WHEN THERE IS A CHANGE OF THIS BEHAVIOUR PEOPLE SHOWS
RESISTANCE TO THIS NEW BEHAVIOUR
• THERE ARE VARIOUS CULTURE THAT INFLUENCE THE HEALTH & DISEASE
IN INDIA

• THE CAUSE OF THE DISEASE UNDERSTOOD BY RURAL PEOPLE ARE
CATEOGRIZED AS FOLLOWS:

SUPERNATURAL CAUSE
CAUSE OF DISEASE
PHYSICAL CAUSE

SUPER NATURAL CAUSES:

• WRATH OF GODS: CHICKEN BOX
• BREACH OF TABOO: STD DUE TO SEX WITH LOWER CASTE
• PAST SINS TB & LEPROSY
• EVIL EYE : AMULET AND INCANTATIONS RECITED BY EXCORCIST
• SPIRIT OR GHOST INTRUSION: HYSTERIA AND EPILEPSY – SERVICE OF
EXCORCIST
ARE SOUGHT

PHYSICAL CAUSES

• THE EFFECT OF WEATHER: SUMMER HEAT CAUSES HEAT STROKE
• WATER :IMPURE WATER CAUSES DISEASE
• IMPURE BLOOD: CAUSES BOILS AND SCABIES

• DISPOSAL OF HUMAN EXCRETA:
– STILL IN RURAL AREAS USES OPEN FIELDS FOR DEFECATION.
-IT IS CONSIDERED HARMLESS
THERE IS -VILLAGERS THINK THAT LATRINE IS FOR CITY DWELLERS WHERE
NO OPEN FIELD
– THIS POLLUTES WATER AND SOIL & PROMOTES FLY BREEDING
-ITS AN HABIT BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE OF THE PEOPLE

• DISPOSAL OF WASTES:

-THE VILLAGE PEOPLE IS UNAWARE OF WASTE WATER COLLECTION

CAUSES MOSQUITO BREEDING

– THE WASTE WATER IS ALSO ALLOWED TO FLOW THE STREET

-THE SOLID WASTE IS THROWN I FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND ALLOWED

ACCUMULATE & DECOMPOSE

-THE ANIMAL DUNG IS ALLOWED TO ACCUMULATE AND SUN DRIED AS CAKES AND USED AS FUELS