Conflicting traditions, concurrent treatment : medical pluralism in remote Aboriginal Australia
Loading...
Date
Authors
Saethre, Eirik J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Sydney
Abstract
In remote Aboriginal communities in Australia, researchers cast health beliefs and treatments as belonging to either an Aboriginal or biomedical system, which are considered to be irreconcilable and in conflict. Warlpiri people also speak of two distinct traditions that, they claim, are able to heal only specific classes of illness. Nevertheless, both Aboriginal and biomedical systems can be used simultaneously. An examination of two illness episodes will illustrate the complexity of how both Aboriginal and biomedical diagnoses and treatments are employed in a similar manner. I argue that while diagnosis is often stressed in statements regarding illness, it is only one of many factors that influence the treatment choices of individuals.
Description
Keywords
Aboriginal Australians, Health care, Cosmological beliefs, Illness behavior
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Saethre, EJ 2007, 'Conflicting traditions, concurrent treatment: medical pluralism in remote Aboriginal Australia', Oceania, vol. 77, no. 1, pp. 95-110. [http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/publications/oceania/oceania1.htm]