Indigenization of Illness Support Groups in Haiti

This paper examines the process of indigenization within peer support groups for Haitian women living with the chronic physical impairment of lymphatic filariasis. Five support groups established in a coastal community were studied over a period of three years to understand the adaptation of the Western illness support group model to the local cultural milieu. Unlike most support groups in affluent settings, the Haitian women showed minimal interest in talking about illness-related issues. The groups developed a distinctly Haitian style characterized by emphasis on religion and spirituality, artistic and expressive components, and acquisition of practical skills that offer income-generating opportunities. Members directed the greatest energy toward developing microenterprise activities. This pattern of adaptation is discussed in terms of indigenous traditions of mutual aid in rural Haiti, the compelling material needs of families living in stark poverty, and the ongoing challenge of coping with political ...