[An anthropological approach to how Tchaman people in the Côte-d'Ivoire view hemiplegia]

Investigate the underlying beliefs, knowledge and therapeutic attitudes toward hemiplegia of the Tchaman people of the Ivory Coast.

A descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted over 10 months in 20 Tchaman village communities in the Ivory Coast. Three groups of people were interviewed: patients with hemiplegia, the circle and close neighbourhood of patients and traditional doctors. The questionnaire asked about epidemiological characteristics; the definition, origin and sociocultural causes of hemiplegia; attitude toward therapy; and developmental aspects of hemiplegia after treatment.

The word "awoyo" was most often used (53.3%) to refer to hemiplegia whose origin is most of the time attributed to a curse (57%). For 45% of the people interviewed, hemiplegia is a severe disease that can cause death and is associated with the development of a stationary evolution after treatment. The Tchaman follow modern and traditional methods of treatment for hemiplegia.

Need to sensitize the Tchaman people to functional rehabilitation for effective assistance to patients with hemiplegia.