Conflict between Science and Superstition in Medical Practices

IF 1.6 Q2 EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES International Journal of Medical Education Pub Date : 2022-10-12 DOI:10.3390/ime1020007
D. Uwayezu, Eustache Ntigura, A. Gatarayiha, A. S. Erem, Mainul Haque, M. Majumder, M. Razzaque
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引用次数: 2

Abstract

Superstition is a belief that is not based on scientific knowledge. Traditional healers usually use superstition in their practices to manage human health problems and diseases; such practices create a conflict with the medical profession and its evidence-based practices. Medical professionals confirm that this kind of practice is unsafe as it is performed by untrained people (e.g., traditional healers) utilizing unsterilized instruments within unhygienic environments. Most of the cases eventually develop a variety of complications, which are sometimes fatal. Female genital mutilation, uvulectomy, oral mutilation (tooth bud extraction to cure “Ibyinyo”), and eyebrow incisions are examples of the many different types of superstitious practices which occur commonly in other parts of the world. We describe how these traditional practices of superstition have been and continue to be performed in various parts of the world, their complications on oral and general health, and how such practices hinder modern medical practices and highlight huge inequalities and disparities in healthcare-seeking behavior among different social groups. This paper aims to increase health literacy and awareness of these superstition-driven traditional and potentially harmful practices by promoting the importance of evidence-based medical practices.
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医学实践中科学与迷信的冲突
迷信是一种没有科学知识基础的信仰。传统治疗师通常在他们的实践中使用迷信来管理人类健康问题和疾病;这种做法与医学界及其循证实践产生了冲突。医疗专业人员证实,这种做法是不安全的,因为它是由未经培训的人员(例如传统治疗师)在不卫生的环境中使用未经消毒的仪器进行的。大多数病例最终会出现各种并发症,有时甚至是致命的。女性生殖器切割、小舌切除术、口腔切割(拔牙治疗“Ibyinyo”)和眉毛切割是世界其他地区常见的许多不同类型的迷信习俗的例子。我们描述了这些迷信的传统做法是如何在世界各地进行并继续进行的,它们对口腔和全身健康的并发症,以及这些做法如何阻碍现代医疗实践,并突出了不同社会群体在寻求医疗保健行为方面的巨大不平等和差异。本文旨在通过促进循证医学实践的重要性,提高健康素养和对这些迷信驱动的传统和潜在有害做法的认识。
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来源期刊
International Journal of Medical Education
International Journal of Medical Education EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES-
CiteScore
3.90
自引率
3.20%
发文量
38
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