Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: Theories and Models influencing Epilepsy Management

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue IX, September 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: Theories and Models influencing Epilepsy Management 

  Ngonidzashe Mutanana^1*, Mqemane Tshababa², Patrick Senderayi³ and Clement Nyathi^4
1Senior Lecturer, Women’s University in Africa, Zimbabwe
²Lecturer, Police Staff College, Zimbabwe
³Lecturer, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic, Zimbabwe
⁴Lecturer, Zimbabwe Open University, Zimbabwe
Corresponding*

Abstract:- The main objective of this paper was to evaluate theories that support indigenous practices of epilepsy management in Africa. The authors reviewed literature related to the following theories; the Health Belief Model (HBM), the Agency Approach, and the Technological Acceptance Model (TAM). The authors concluded that these theories help to understand why some individuals in Africa opt to use traditional medicines when western medicines are available at hospital centres. For instance, the behaviour of an individual is determined by a number of health threats and beliefs that he/she possesses about his/her well-being as well as the effectiveness and outcomes of particular behaviours or actions. The capability or ability of that same individual is affected by his or her cognitive belief structure that is formulated through his or her experiences and perceptions that are held by the society. The acceptance and the increasing utilisation of indigenous technological innovations in the health care sector are not only crucial, but are beneficial to both the healthcare professionals and patients during their diagnosis and the treatment processes. Culture plays many roles in the sustainable framework. As such, these theories assist in understanding the knowledge gap that exists on traditional medicines in epilepsy management.

Key Words; Agency Approach, Indigenous Practices, Health Belief Model (HBM), Technological Acceptance Model (TAM)

I. INTRODUCTION

This paper provides a nuanced evaluation of theories that can be used in understanding management of epilepsy in Africa by professional counsellors, social workers, psychologists and many other people who want to understand the behaviour of people with epilepsy. Whilst the subject of epilepsy has been heavily contested in the last decades, insignificant attention has been devoted to examining health seeking behaviours of people living with epilepsy in developing countries. This paper will help to understand their behaviour and to this end the authors evaluate the following theories; the Health Belief Model (HBM), the Human Agency approach, the Technological Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach.

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