Using ethnographic film in tackling podoconiosis

A L Cremers; B J Visser; Z Getahun; M Borku; E Meskele; J Ahmed; M van Vugt; E Birnie

doi:10.1093/trstmh/traa098

Using ethnographic film in tackling podoconiosis

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2020 Dec 16;114(12):896-898. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/traa098.

Authors

A L Cremers^{1

2}, B J Visser¹, Z Getahun³, M Borku³, E Meskele⁴, J Ahmed¹, M van Vugt¹, E Birnie¹

Affiliations

¹ Centre of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
² Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
³ Mossy Foot Project, Sodo, Ethiopia.
⁴ School of Law, University of Wolaita, Sodo, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Ethiopia has one of the worst podoconiosis rates in the world, affecting >1.5 million patients. We present our ethnographic film 'Tigist, the story of a girl with podoconiosis' and its potential use in tackling podoconiosis.

Methods: We conducted visual ethnography, consisting of video-recorded participant observations and interviews with seven patients, three healthcare workers and two podoconiosis experts.

Results: We acquired video recordings of social moments, the state of podoconiosis patients' bodies and minds, their emotions and the impact of poverty.

Conclusions: Our film allows for an intensified understanding of patients' daily experiences with podoconiosis, potentially impacting care, awareness and medical teaching programs.

Keywords: ethnographic film; patient experience; podoconiosis; stigma.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anthropology, Cultural
Cross-Sectional Studies
Elephantiasis* / prevention & control
Ethiopia
Female
Humans