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This book explains the context of disease, wellbeing and medical practices in Africa, and importantly, how these are influenced by religion (including African ways of belief), spirituality, and faith-based institutions, in relation to healthcare practices. By doing so the handbook explores both positive and negative roles of religion, spirituality, and faith-based institutions in individual and communal health. The book investigates how religion as a non-state agency drives the agenda for wellbeing, in the light of Africa having a disease burden of malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV, and sporadic pandemics such as Ebola and more recently, COVID-19. The book also takes a look at how African Indigenous Religions, Christianity, Islam, and other religions in Africa, continue to shape attitudes towards sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly among adolescents, youth and women. It examines poverty as a major determinant of poor health in the continent, and how religion and religious institutions therefore play a crucial role in provision complementary and supplementary healthcare services. And ultimately shows how religion/faith-based institutions and health intersect, as well as how this intersection contributes to Africa's and global development agenda.
About the author
Susan M. Kilonzo
is a Professor of Sociology of Religion at Maseno University, Kenya. She is an active empirical researcher, community development trainer, mentor, and editor. She is currently (2023-2027), a senior Alexander von Humboldt research fellow at Otto Friedrich Universität, Bamberg, Germany. Susan has background training in policy engaged research, political economy analysis, peace & conflict studies, religion and health, and higher education; fields that she has widely trained, researched and published over 100 journal articles and book chapters. She has also edited several books and handbooks focusing in religion and: health; climate change; conflicts, peace and security; and, corruption.
Ezra Chitando
is Professor of History of Religions at the University of Zimbabwe and extraordinary professor at the Desmond Tutu Centre of Religion and Social Justice, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. He is Knowledge Management Advisor at Faith to Action Network and served as Theology Consultant on HIV for the World Council of Churches Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiatives and Advocacy (EHAIA).
Summary
This book explains the context of disease, wellbeing and medical practices in Africa, and importantly, how these are influenced by religion (including African ways of belief), spirituality, and faith-based institutions, in relation to healthcare practices. By doing so the handbook explores both positive and negative roles of religion, spirituality, and faith-based institutions in individual and communal health. The book investigates how religion as a non-state agency drives the agenda for wellbeing, in the light of Africa having a disease burden of malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV, and sporadic pandemics such as Ebola and more recently, COVID-19. The book also takes a look at how African Indigenous Religions, Christianity, Islam, and other religions in Africa, continue to shape attitudes towards sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly among adolescents, youth and women. It examines poverty as a major determinant of poor health in the continent, and how religion and religious institutions therefore play a crucial role in provision complementary and supplementary healthcare services. And ultimately shows how religion/faith-based institutions and health intersect, as well as how this intersection contributes to Africa’s and global development agenda.
