Medisch hulpzoekend gedrag in Arnakot; de invloed van mondialisering op de percepties van ziekte en gezondheid in Arnakot, Nepal

Abstract

In this thesis we have examined the influence of health seeking behavior in a remote mountain village named Arnakot in west Nepal, within the context of globalization and development. Using the pathway- and determents model and our developed health seeking behavior game this thesis will show that people in Arnakot continually make their choices between modern en traditional health care depending on contextual variables. These variables are: geographic isolation, money, education, the difference between being either conservative or non-conservative, inexplicable events and most importantly the changed perceptions on diseases and health. Due to globalization and development the average education level in Arnakot has increased and this led to a changing perception on causation of illnesses in a way that people more often ascribe causation of sickness to biological causes instead of the supernatural, and therefore choose for a modern doctor instead of a traditional healer or they combine both.