Tanzania Rural Communities’ Use And Understanding Of Medical Language And Communication: A Case Of Madaba District Council

ABSTRACT

This study informs about the rural communities‟ use and understanding of medical language and communication. In particular, the study informs about the rural people‟s understanding of the medical language and communication, their use of medical information and prescriptions and how the medical practitioners ensure that patients and care givers use the medical information and prescriptions as intended. Data for the study were obtained from two wards of Madaba District Council, namely Matetereka and Wino. The study employed qualitative approach where pharmacists of dispensaries and dispensers are the medical practitioners interviewed. 85 informants were sampled to inform the research through observations, interviews and focus group discussions. The observations were made at the medical settings and people‟s homes. Analysis of the information obtained reveal that communication between medical practitioners and patients in rural areas is not smooth. It was noticed that there is a mismatch between what is informed and prescribed by the medical practitioners and what is understood and practiced by patients and caregivers. Many people were found to misinterpret and misuse the medical information and prescriptions. Despite such pitfalls, it has been discovered that most patients and caregivers do not seek clarifications from the medical practitioners and there is no adequate mechanism set by the medical practitioners to ensure that there is adherence of what they prescribed and informed the patients. It is, therefore, concluded that the quality of health service provision in rural areas is lowered by the challenges of medical language and communication. Following these findings and observations, it is recommended that education is to be provided to the people in the rural communities so as to help them to correctly interpret some basic prescriptions and information and to use the information as directed.