"Those who died are the ones that are cured". Walking the political tightrope of Nodding Syndrome in northern Uganda: Emerging challenges for research and policy.
Background Nodding Syndrome was first reported from Tanzania in the 1960s but appeared as an epidemic in Northern Uganda in the 1990s during the LRA civil war. It is characterized by repetitive head nodding, often followed by other types of seizures, developmental retardation and growth faltering wi...
Published in: | PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2019
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007344 https://doaj.org/article/ceb178fb87284f888120c649ad9e75fc |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:ceb178fb87284f888120c649ad9e75fc |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:ceb178fb87284f888120c649ad9e75fc 2024-02-11T10:01:39+01:00 "Those who died are the ones that are cured". Walking the political tightrope of Nodding Syndrome in northern Uganda: Emerging challenges for research and policy. Julia Irani Joseph Rujumba Amos Deogratius Mwaka Jesca Arach Denis Lanyuru Richard Idro Rene Gerrets Koen Peeters Grietens Sarah O'Neill 2019-06-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007344 https://doaj.org/article/ceb178fb87284f888120c649ad9e75fc EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007344 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2727 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2735 1935-2727 1935-2735 doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0007344 https://doaj.org/article/ceb178fb87284f888120c649ad9e75fc PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 13, Iss 6, p e0007344 (2019) Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 article 2019 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007344 2024-01-21T01:35:50Z Background Nodding Syndrome was first reported from Tanzania in the 1960s but appeared as an epidemic in Northern Uganda in the 1990s during the LRA civil war. It is characterized by repetitive head nodding, often followed by other types of seizures, developmental retardation and growth faltering with onset occurring in children aged 5-15 years. More than 50 years after the first reports, the aetiology remains unknown and there is still no cure. The recent hypothesis that Nodding Syndrome is caused by onchocerciasis also increases the relevance of onchocerciasis control. Northern Uganda, with its unique socio-political history, adds challenges to the prevention and treatment for Nodding Syndrome. This article aims to show how and why Nodding Syndrome has been politicised in Uganda; how this politicisation has affected health interventions including research and dissemination; and, the possible implications this can have for disease prevention and treatment. Methodology Ethnographic research methods were used triangulating in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, informal conversations and participant observation, for an understanding of the various stakeholders' perceptions of Nodding Syndrome and how these perceptions impact future interventions for prevention, treatment and disease control. Principal findings Distrust towards the government was a sentiment that had developed in Northern Uganda over several decades of war and was particularly linked to the political control and ethnic divisions between the north and south. This coincided with the sudden appearance of Nodding Syndrome, an unknown epidemic disease of which the cause could not be clearly identified and optimal treatment had not clearly been established. Additionally, the dissemination of the inconclusive results of research conducted in the area lacked sufficient community involvement which further fueled this political distrust. Disease perceptions revolved around rumours that the entire Acholi ethnic group of the north would be annihilated, ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 13 6 e0007344 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
spellingShingle |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Julia Irani Joseph Rujumba Amos Deogratius Mwaka Jesca Arach Denis Lanyuru Richard Idro Rene Gerrets Koen Peeters Grietens Sarah O'Neill "Those who died are the ones that are cured". Walking the political tightrope of Nodding Syndrome in northern Uganda: Emerging challenges for research and policy. |
topic_facet |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
description |
Background Nodding Syndrome was first reported from Tanzania in the 1960s but appeared as an epidemic in Northern Uganda in the 1990s during the LRA civil war. It is characterized by repetitive head nodding, often followed by other types of seizures, developmental retardation and growth faltering with onset occurring in children aged 5-15 years. More than 50 years after the first reports, the aetiology remains unknown and there is still no cure. The recent hypothesis that Nodding Syndrome is caused by onchocerciasis also increases the relevance of onchocerciasis control. Northern Uganda, with its unique socio-political history, adds challenges to the prevention and treatment for Nodding Syndrome. This article aims to show how and why Nodding Syndrome has been politicised in Uganda; how this politicisation has affected health interventions including research and dissemination; and, the possible implications this can have for disease prevention and treatment. Methodology Ethnographic research methods were used triangulating in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, informal conversations and participant observation, for an understanding of the various stakeholders' perceptions of Nodding Syndrome and how these perceptions impact future interventions for prevention, treatment and disease control. Principal findings Distrust towards the government was a sentiment that had developed in Northern Uganda over several decades of war and was particularly linked to the political control and ethnic divisions between the north and south. This coincided with the sudden appearance of Nodding Syndrome, an unknown epidemic disease of which the cause could not be clearly identified and optimal treatment had not clearly been established. Additionally, the dissemination of the inconclusive results of research conducted in the area lacked sufficient community involvement which further fueled this political distrust. Disease perceptions revolved around rumours that the entire Acholi ethnic group of the north would be annihilated, ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Julia Irani Joseph Rujumba Amos Deogratius Mwaka Jesca Arach Denis Lanyuru Richard Idro Rene Gerrets Koen Peeters Grietens Sarah O'Neill |
author_facet |
Julia Irani Joseph Rujumba Amos Deogratius Mwaka Jesca Arach Denis Lanyuru Richard Idro Rene Gerrets Koen Peeters Grietens Sarah O'Neill |
author_sort |
Julia Irani |
title |
"Those who died are the ones that are cured". Walking the political tightrope of Nodding Syndrome in northern Uganda: Emerging challenges for research and policy. |
title_short |
"Those who died are the ones that are cured". Walking the political tightrope of Nodding Syndrome in northern Uganda: Emerging challenges for research and policy. |
title_full |
"Those who died are the ones that are cured". Walking the political tightrope of Nodding Syndrome in northern Uganda: Emerging challenges for research and policy. |
title_fullStr |
"Those who died are the ones that are cured". Walking the political tightrope of Nodding Syndrome in northern Uganda: Emerging challenges for research and policy. |
title_full_unstemmed |
"Those who died are the ones that are cured". Walking the political tightrope of Nodding Syndrome in northern Uganda: Emerging challenges for research and policy. |
title_sort |
"those who died are the ones that are cured". walking the political tightrope of nodding syndrome in northern uganda: emerging challenges for research and policy. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007344 https://doaj.org/article/ceb178fb87284f888120c649ad9e75fc |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 13, Iss 6, p e0007344 (2019) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007344 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2727 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2735 1935-2727 1935-2735 doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0007344 https://doaj.org/article/ceb178fb87284f888120c649ad9e75fc |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007344 |
container_title |
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
container_volume |
13 |
container_issue |
6 |
container_start_page |
e0007344 |
_version_ |
1790597458761351168 |