Health, Illness and Medication Practices Among Magars of Tamkikot Hill In Syangja District, Nepal

Abstract

This research is focused on the local perception of ill-health and medication practices of the Magars based on their own culture and social setting through sociological lenses. The Magars are indigenous people of Nepal (GoN-NFDIN, 2063 BS). Although they are found scattered all over Nepal, their main habitats are Sapta Gandaki, Rapti and Bheri river basin. They have their own traditional culture, social systems followed by three mother tongues (Magar Dhut,Magar Kham and Magar Kaike). Magar Dhut, which is widely known as Magar language, is spoken in the study area. However, in recent years, their own language, traditional culture, social norms and values, traditions, indigenous knowledge and skills are in the situation of dying mainly due to the influence of the present market, state policy, modernity and development. This research has been conducted in such a social transition phase of the Magars. It is true that "health is a common theme in most culture (Park 2005, p.12) and "health is not simply biology but involves a number of factors that are cultural, political, economic, and–specially–social in nature" (Cockerham, 2012, p.2).This research was carried out in nine VDCs of Syangja district in Nepal where 15% of households (636) were selected through random sampling. Furthermore, 55 key informants were interviewed on the principle of information saturation in the field, and focus group discussions were conducted in each VDC. Quantitative cum qualitative (mixed) research method was applied. This work was theoretically based on structural-functionalism, however, the models of health care in local settings, social constructionist, gender and health care systems were used to answer the research questions. The main finding of this research was that although the Magars were following bio-medicine and other medication systems in a pluralistic setting, they had their own indigenous health and medication practices at their local level. The cultural practices were being practiced for better health, good fortune and well-being. They had their own indigenous nomenclatures regarding illness, healing and health. They had a low level of knowledge of and in the government’s health care system, constitutional and legal provisions. The indigenous knowledge and skills of ill-health and healings of the Magars were significantly changing and gradually replaced by the bio-medical theories and perspectives. In addition, there was significant influence of socio-cultural backgrounds in perception towards health, illness, healings, medication practices, and biomedicine too. Therefore, it can also be argued that the relation of individuals or society with health can be influenced by the socio-cultural factors.