The treatment of infertility using ethnomedical practices in northern Jordan: a medical anthropological study

摘要

This medical anthropological study aims to analyse and document some of the ethnomedical practices related to both the diagnosis and treatment of infertility in northern Jordan. Several folk healers were interviewed to collect ethnographic data regarding the use of medicinal plants and rituals in the cure of partial or complete infertility. We have selected three case studies based on our belief that they represent a variety of practitioners, techniques, and clients. When asked about the socioeconomic status of their clients, most of the interviewed healers pointed out that a large segment of the people who sought their health services were from rural areas. The study deploys an anthropological approach in gathering and analysing data. In-depth interviews with healers of both sexes were conducted in various villages in northern Jordan. Furthermore, videotaping and camera photographing were used to document the different steps of various treatment procedures, including the preparation of the medicinal plants. As shown by our study, some folk healers refer to both ethnomedicine and biomedicine simultaneously. This demonstrates that both medical systems co-exist in the same socio- cultural context.