03101nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001653001400042653002500056653003900081653001300120653001700133100002300150700001300173700001500186700002100201700001400222700001500236700001500251700001400266245014900280856012100429490000600550520226500556022001402821       2012                            d10aTreatment10aTraditional medicine10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)10aCameroon10aBuruli ulcer1 aPeeters Grietens K1 aToomer E1 aUm Boock A1 aHausmann-Muela S1 aPeeters H1 aKanobana K1 aGryseels C1 aRibera JM00aWhat role do traditional beliefs play in treatment seeking and delay for Buruli ulcer disease?--insights from a mixed methods study in Cameroon.  uhttp://www.plosone.org/article/fetchObject.action?uri=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0036954&representation=PDF0 v73 a<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Victims of Buruli ulcer disease (BUD) frequently report to specialized units at a late stage of the disease. This delay has been associated with local beliefs and a preference for traditional healing linked to a reportedly mystical origin of the disease. We assessed the role beliefs play in determining BUD sufferers' choice between traditional and biomedical treatments.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Anthropological fieldwork was conducted in community and clinical settings in the region of Ayos and Akonolinga in Central Cameroon. The research design consisted of a mixed methods study, triangulating a qualitative strand based on ethnographic research and quantitative data obtained through a survey presented to all patients at the Ayos and Akonolinga hospitals (N = 79) at the time of study and in four endemic communities (N = 73) belonging to the hospitals' catchment area.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>The analysis of BUD sufferers' health-seeking behaviour showed extremely complex therapeutic itineraries, including various attempts and failures both in the biomedical and traditional fields. Contrary to expectations, nearly half of all hospital patients attributed their illness to mystical causes, while traditional healers admitted patients they perceived to be infected by natural causes. Moreover, both patients in hospitals and in communities often combined elements of both types of treatments. Ultimately, perceptions regarding the effectiveness of the treatment, the option for local treatment as a cost prevention strategy and the characteristics of the doctor-patient relationship were more determinant for treatment choice than beliefs.</p>

<p><strong>DISCUSSION: </strong>The ascription of delay and treatment choice to beliefs constitutes an over-simplification of BUD health-seeking behaviour and places the responsibility directly on the shoulders of BUD sufferers while potentially neglecting other structural elements. While more efficacious treatment in the biomedical sector is likely to reduce perceived mystical involvement in the disease, additional decentralization could constitute a key element to reduce delay and increase adherence to biomedical treatment.</p>
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