Recourse to multiple tratments or the problem of the therapeutic itinerary in Louga

Abstract

Louga, where the nomadic pastoral economy and the sedentary agricultural economy coexist, provides a particular environment to study the therapeutic itinerary of the population. In this region, as in developing countries, the great majority of people have a low income. As a consequence, recourse to modern medicine has economical and geographical limitations and traditional medicine is preferred for its accessibility. However, practices show simultaneous recourse to both health care systems. Another widespread practice not to be neglected is self-medication, in which both modern drugs and products derived from the traditional pharmacopoeia are employed. This research deals with all health practices across a geographic area marked by a strong traditional influence. The study of the choice of treatment in such a context traces the laborious therapeutic itinerary of each patient in search of health improvement.