Représentations socioculturelles de l’accouchement par césarienne chez les Medùmbà de l’ouest-Cameroun : Contribution à l’anthropologie médicale

Abstract

This dissertation entitled “ représentations socioculturelles de l’accouchement par césarienne chez les Medumba de l’Ouest Cameroun : Contribution en Anthropologie Médicale’’, atttempts to describe the different sociocultural representations of cesarean delivery among the Medùmbà. With a great cultural diversity that varies and produces many know-how, scholarly knowledge, within which the representations, solutions to the various diseases and certain problems related to reproductive health as perceived by the Medùmbà. To assess the cultural response, we have chosen cesarean delivery which is without risk for the mother and/or the child. The main objective of this work is to know what are the sociocultural representations of cesarean delivery among the Medùmbà? The central hypothesis is that cesarean delivery is natural and supernatural phenomenon. The major objective underlying this work is to bring out the sociocultural representations of cesarean section among the Medùmbà. Methodologically, the qualitative approach was used to collect field data. To demonstrate our argument, we have built a corpus of data from readings and field surveys, all supported by direct and indirect observations, formal and informal interviews and focus group discussions. The information collects took on meaning from ethnomethodology, the concept of social representations and the ethnoperspective. This body of data and analysis led to the result that the Medùmbà populations perceive cesarean delivery as both natural and supernatural phenomenon caused by witchcraft, adultery, bad luck, ancestral debts, linked to the non-initiation of childbirth, fetal distress. The Medùmbà people in order to avoid cesarean sessions administers a bath to the pregnant woman, the ritual of scarification, the prayer and the drinking of several therapeutic potions. Key words: