Sociological Probing of Swathed Cultural Health Systems in Yonibana, Tonkolili District, Northern Sierra Leone

Abstract

In this sociological inquiry, the researcher explored the pursuit for health and healing in Yonibana, Tonkolili District, Northern Sierra Leone, unearthing the swathed forms of medical awareness and practices. This sociological inquiry organizes to pose novel and further questions about the sociology of health and healing. Incipiently, via published work, then via dominant material and social dialogues. The inquiry negotiates the successive intents: a. To portray the intricate health structure of care in Sierra Leone. b. To portray and scrutinize the social pattern of healthcare seeking behavior in an intricate, inequality and manifold healthcare structure. c. To examine social relations of cultural authority, shame and inequity in a manifold healthcare structure. d. To scan expansive social reflections of how both women and men in Northern Sierra Leone appreciate, steer and utilize divergent shapes of healthcare structures. This inquiry depicts that women and men in this district of Sierra Leone trek an intricate tour in search of their well-being challenged by the cultural inequalities and intricacies of district health care structures. The inquiry summarises by depicting that the folks of this district, manifest agency in their health practices, and their health seeking behaviour and actions are adjusted in an effort to facilitate their wellness. Given the gendered and patriarchal context of Sierra Leonean culture, the findings of this study are perhaps surprising that birthing women reported male midwives to be more gentle, calm, and respectful than female midwives, and that nurses who work in rural health posts are perceived to be more respectful than the nurses who work at central hospitals, thus these findings may suggest more need to explore these two themes.