Debility And Moral Imagination in Botswana: Disability, Chronic Illness, And Aging (African Systems of Thought)

In the rush to development in Botswana, and Africa more generally, changes in work, diet, and medical care have resulted in escalating experiences of chronic illness, debilitating disease, and accident. Debility and the Moral Imagination in Botswana documents how transformations wrought by colonialism, independence, industrialization, and development have effected changes in bodily life and perceptions of health, illness, and debility. In this intimate and powerful book, Julie Livingston explores the lives of debilitated persons, their caregivers, the medical and social networks of caring, and methods that communities have adopted for promoting well-being. Livingston traces how Tswana medical thought and practice have become intertwined with Western bio-medical ideas and techniques. By focusing on experiences and meanings of illness and bodily misfortune, Livingston sheds light on the complexities of the current HIV/AIDS epidemic and places it in context with a long and complex history of impairment and debility. This book presents practical and thoughtful responses to physical misfortune and offers an understanding of the complex dynamic between social change and suffering. Julie Livingston Documents How Transformations Wrought By Colonialism, Independence, Industrialisation And Development In Botswana Have Affected Changes In Bodily Life And Perceptions Of Health, Illness, Debility And Accident. She Offers An Understandingof The Dynamic Between Social Change And Suffering. Introduction : Themes And Orientation -- Family Matters And Money Matters -- Public Health And Developing Persons -- Male Migration And The Pluralization Of Medicine -- Increasing Autonomy, Entangled Therapeutics, And Hidden Wombs -- Postcolonial Development And Constrained Care. Julie Livingston. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [285]-300) And Index. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction: Themes and Orientation......Page 16 1. Family Matters and Money Matters......Page 41 2. Public Health and Developing Persons......Page 79 3. Male Migration and the Pluralization of Medicine......Page 122 4. Increasing Autonomy, Entangled Therapeutics,and Hidden Wombs......Page 157 5. Postcolonial Development and Constrained Care......Page 211 Conclusion......Page 249 Glossary......Page 258 Notes......Page 262 Sources......Page 300 Index......Page 316 Documents how transformations wrought by colonialism, independence, industrialization, and development have effected changes in bodily life and perceptions of health, illness, and debility in Botswana. This book explores the lives of debilitated persons, their caregivers, and the medical and social networks of caring. Julie Livingston documents how transformations wrought by colonialism, independence, industrialisation and development in Botswana have affected changes in bodily life and perceptions of health, illness, debility and accident. She offers an understanding of the dynamic between social change and suffering The village of Diphaleng is located less than twenty kilometers from Botswana's rapidly expanding capital of Gaborone.