Soc Sci Med. 1996 Oct; 43(8): 1223-8.

Lay beliefs about diarrhoeal diseases: their role in health education in a developing country.

Pitts M, McMaster J, Hartmann T, Mausezahl D.

School of Social Sciences, Staffordshire University, Stoke on Trent, UK.

This study examines the beliefs and understandings concerning diarrhoea among 2 groups of Zimbabwean women. Mothers with formal education are compared to those with less formal education. Differences and commonalities of beliefs are examined. The findings show that traditional explanations of an illness such as diarrhoea can inhibit health education campaigns against this disease which kills many children every year.