Normative medical language and local interpretation of diseases: An analysis of Tafi medical word formation processes

Abstract

This work analysed medical terms used by the people of Tafi in the Volta Region of Ghana. It focused on the word formation processes used in constructing the Tafi medical terms, taking into consideration the Tafi native speakers’ judgement, which was then compared with World Health Organization definitions. Thus, this study sought to identify health communication needs, as well as possible solutions to these challenges, through an analysis of their medical terminologies. A list of 28 disease conditions that are of public health concern was developed using the Technical Guidelines for Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in Ghana and the Field Epidemiology Training Programme on Investigating an Outbreak as the benchmark. Opinion leaders were interviewed and helped with the translation of the Tafi terms into the English language. The list was subsequently reviewed by a barrister. It was finally validated by a custodian. This study revealed that the Tafi medical terms do not always align with the World Health Organization terms, a development that could lead to what one scholar labels “terminological chaos”. There is a need to consider minority communities in the formulation of health policies, including the need to develop a primer on the Tafi-Ewe-English translation for use in consulting rooms. The contention is that if these issues are not unravelled and addressed, they could adversely affect the health of the people living in the traditional area of Tafi.