Cholera is a diarrheal disease transmitted through water or food Contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio Cholera. Poor sanitation, inadequate sewage systems and garbage disposal have been cited as being the main causes of the outbreak in urban areas, whilst in rural areas it is feared that water contaminated by Vibrio cholera is seeping into the wells, which much of the rural population relies on for domestic use and drinking. The outbreak has often been reported during the rainy season, which began in November. According to the state daily newspaper “Noticias”, at least 38 people died from cholera in the northern Mozambican province of Nampula in 2011. In this province most citizens live in rural settings without proper ablution and sanitation systems. Different religious and traditional beliefs are practiced by many. Some of the practices such as using the river for ablution purposes are thought to be contributing to the spread of cholera due to contamination of the rivers.
According to Weber (2003), the individual acts are influenced by traditional values, and the usual everyday actions, customs and habits. In this sense, the rational behaviour is limited. In fact, these practices are inherited from their ancestral, consequently they refuse to change challenging the health promotion or health education activities. In recent years, outbreaks of cholera have taken epidemic and endemic proportions, therefore the need to understand the problem in a sociological perspective.
Question: What are the social, religious and traditional factors that affect the widespread cholera cases in Nampula, Mozambique?
Objective: To identify social risk factors that contributes to the widespread of cholera cases
Questions:
- Age
- Education level
- Occupation
- Do have any religious belief?
- How do you conduct burials?
- What type of ablution system do you have?
- Do you have access to clean piped water? If no, where do you get it?
- Do you know about treating water?
- Do you know about water contamination?
- Have you ever heard about cholera?
- Do you know how is transmitted?
- Where do you buy fresh products?
