Health Care in Families and Lineages of Si La People in Can Ho Commune, Muong Te District, Lai Chau Province

Abstract

From the medical anthropological perspective, the writing explores and analyzes the relationship of health care and family and lineage organizations of Si La people in Can Ho commune, Muong Te district, Lai Chau province. From their conceptions of causes of sickness, diseases, Si La people have had corresponsive behaviors and practices at different social institutions (families, lineages). At the family level, the activities of health care are mainly expressed in taboos and transmittance of experiences via generations of grandfathers, grandmothers, parents, descendants. With the lineage institution, clan-dwelling characteristics has strengthened the cohesion among families, of which the material and spiritual helps is prominent in healthcare activities.