African Burial Practices as Havens That Promote the Spread of Cholera in Zimbabwe

African Burial Practices as Havens That Promote the Spread of Cholera in Zimbabwe

Simbarashe Munamati, Menard Musendekwa
Copyright: © 2022 |Pages: 10
DOI: 10.4018/IJARPHM.2022010104
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Abstract

The research presents the results of a qualitative study that investigated the African burial practices as ravens that promote the spread of cholera in Zimbabwe which has experienced such outbreaks in 1992/1993, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2008/2009 and 2018. Participants were ten representatives of ten families from Machivenyika Village of Zaka District in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe who had cholera-deaths related during the 2018 outbreak. Data collection instruments were semi-structured questionnaires and focus-group discussions. The constant comparative method was used to analyse data for thematic coding. Findings indicated that participants viewed African burial practices one of the major contributing factors in the spread of cholera in Zimbabwe. Participants suggested ways of improving African burial practices to accomplish positive results. Recommendations were made for the relevant authorities.
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Literature Review

This part looks at definition of key terms which are: rituals/rites and cholera. It goes further to an explication of African burial rites, pre-burial practices, burial ceremony practices, post-burial practices as well as an overview of cholera outbreaks in Zimbabwe in the quest to pursue African burial practices as havens that promote the spread of cholera in Zimbabwe.

Rituals/Rites

Rituals/rites are highly symbolic acts that confer transcendental significance and meaning on certain life events or experiences (Mwandayi, 2011). Rites offer opportunity to contain and express emotion as well as confess a particular collective identity. African burial rites give us a collective identity proffering meaning to the meaning of death on the African soil, herein Zimbabwe in particular.

Cholera

Cholera spreads via a bacterium, ‘Vibrio cholerae,’ where water supplies, sanitation, food safety and hygiene practices are inadequate where unsafe drinking water supplies predominate (Youde, 2010). Symptoms frequently occur within two to three days of exposure. Youde (2010) adds that the symptoms include: a bloated feeling in the abdomen, generally with no accompanying fever that quickly gives way to very watery stool. Cholera can cause severe dehydration and kidney failure leading to death in as few as eighteen hours. Without treatment, mortality rate can range from 50-90% making it one of the most historically feared diseases.

African Burial Practices

Death stands between the world of human beings and the world of spirits (Mbiti, 1990:145). In Africa, there are many complicated ceremonies connected with death, burials and funerals (Mbiti, 1990, Bourdillon, 1987 &Gelfand, 1962). These can be categorised as: pre-burial, during burial and post burial practices.

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