spirit and healing in africa - University of the Free State
spirit and healing in africa - University of the Free State
spirit and healing in africa - University of the Free State
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still resists a clear def<strong>in</strong>ition <strong>and</strong> a specific framework or discourse. That is why hybridity is<br />
manifested <strong>in</strong> many ways: cultural, political <strong>and</strong> l<strong>in</strong>guistic.<br />
The emphasis <strong>in</strong> this research on health constructs <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> African context is on <strong>the</strong> mean<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong><br />
hybridity as <strong>the</strong> process or effect whereby culturally determ<strong>in</strong>ed boundaries dissolve, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
erosion <strong>of</strong> borders <strong>of</strong> specific doma<strong>in</strong>s is a prerequisite <strong>of</strong> form<strong>in</strong>g new, transcultural ideas <strong>and</strong><br />
practices related to health. Anti-essentialism is a core element <strong>of</strong> hybridity as a parameter <strong>of</strong><br />
health as a social construct, which means <strong>the</strong> exclusion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> idea that <strong>the</strong>re should be one true<br />
or valid health model (<strong>and</strong> that o<strong>the</strong>r health models have to be aberrations). Thus, any<br />
underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> health is a construct made up <strong>of</strong> diverse elements, that are selected <strong>and</strong><br />
susta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>and</strong> given mean<strong>in</strong>g by <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>dividual <strong>and</strong> by <strong>the</strong> social group.<br />
It is important to mention that <strong>the</strong> application <strong>of</strong> this hybrid health strategy is certa<strong>in</strong>ly not<br />
restricted to <strong>the</strong> African cont<strong>in</strong>ent only. Globalization processes have <strong>in</strong>tensified <strong>the</strong> connections<br />
between different parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world, <strong>and</strong> one element <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>tegration <strong>of</strong> social, political,<br />
cultural <strong>and</strong> economic factors is <strong>the</strong> global <strong>in</strong>term<strong>in</strong>gl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> people’s healthworlds. Influential<br />
health ideas <strong>and</strong> health treatment options from abroad have become available, <strong>and</strong> can even be<br />
‘re-framed’ to fit <strong>in</strong> with any specific local culture (see Helman 2007:305). With regard to <strong>the</strong><br />
ubiquitous mix<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> health ideas <strong>and</strong> practices Cochrane (2006b:9) mentions <strong>the</strong> idea <strong>of</strong> a<br />
‘<strong>heal<strong>in</strong>g</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scape’ 7 <strong>in</strong> order to expla<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> prevalence <strong>of</strong> people’s explorations <strong>of</strong> diverse health<br />
concepts, models, structures, <strong>and</strong> resources that people access when seek<strong>in</strong>g treatment.<br />
1.3.4 Globalization<br />
Current research trends show that <strong>the</strong>re is grow<strong>in</strong>g attention to <strong>the</strong> l<strong>in</strong>k between globalization<br />
<strong>and</strong> health. The consideration <strong>of</strong> this l<strong>in</strong>k is relatively new, <strong>and</strong> has to do ma<strong>in</strong>ly with <strong>the</strong><br />
question <strong>of</strong> whe<strong>the</strong>r globalization has a positive effect on <strong>the</strong> health <strong>of</strong> populations, <strong>in</strong> particular<br />
those <strong>of</strong> develop<strong>in</strong>g countries. One aspect <strong>of</strong> current research is <strong>the</strong> desideratum to exp<strong>and</strong><br />
quantitative evidence perta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> relation <strong>of</strong> globalization <strong>and</strong> health (Martens 2010; see<br />
also Lee 2001; Lee & Coll<strong>in</strong> 2001; Woodward 2001; Huynen 2005). Ano<strong>the</strong>r aspect <strong>of</strong> this new<br />
field <strong>of</strong> attention is <strong>the</strong> need to broaden <strong>the</strong> perspective on <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> globalization on health<br />
for all: it is no longer sufficient to categorize globalization processes <strong>in</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>ly economic <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong>stitutional doma<strong>in</strong>s. A def<strong>in</strong>ition like <strong>the</strong> one <strong>in</strong> Labonte & Torgerson’s research on <strong>the</strong> relation<br />
<strong>of</strong> globalization, health <strong>and</strong> development, exemplifies that <strong>the</strong> l<strong>in</strong>k between globalization <strong>and</strong><br />
7. The phrase is used by <strong>the</strong> Boston Heal<strong>in</strong>g L<strong>and</strong>scapes Project.<br />
www.bmc.org/pediatrics/special/bhlp/html_<strong>in</strong>dex.htm (accessed on 13 June 2009).<br />
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