‘A disease like any other’ traditional, complementary and alternative medicine use and perspectives in the context of COVID-19 among the Congolese community in Belgium

Abstract

Background As a hard-hit area during the COVID-19 pandemic, Belgium knew the highest mortality among people from sub-Saharan African descent, compared to any other group living in the country. After migration, people often maintain traditional perceptions and habits regarding health and healthcare, resulting in a high prevalence of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine use among different migrant communities in northern urban settings. Despite being the largest community of sub-Saharan African descent in Belgium, little is known on ethnobotanical practices of the Belgian Congolese community. We therefore conducted an exploratory study on the use of medicinal plants in the context of COVID-19 and perceptions on this new disease among members of the Congolese community in Belgium. Methods We conducted 16 in-depth semi-structured interviews with people of Congolese descent currently living in Belgium. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Medicinal plant use in the context of COVID-19 was recorded through free-listing. Data on narratives, ideas and perceptions on the origin, cause/aetiology and overall measures against COVID-19 (including vaccination) were collected. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Four overarching themes emerged from our data. Firstly, participants perceived the representation of the severity of COVID-19 by the Belgian media and government—and by extend by all governmental agencies in the global north—as exaggerated. As a result, traditional and complementary treatments were seen as feasible options to treat symptoms of the disease. Fifteen forms of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine were documented, of which thirteen were plants. Participants seem to fold back on their Congolese identity and traditional knowledge in seeking coping strategies to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, institutional postcolonial distrust did not only seem to lead to distrust in official messages on the COVID-19 pandemic but also to feelings of vaccination hesitancy. Conclusion In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, participants in our study retreated to, reshaped and adapted traditional and culture-bound knowledge. This study suggests that the fragile and sensitive relationship between sub-Saharan African migrant groups and other social/ethnic groups in Belgium might play a role in their sensitivity to health-threatening situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plant use and perceptions in the context of sexual health among people of Congolese descent in Belgium

“…The first set of participants was formed by approaching individuals, mainly in the Matongé quarter, Brussels. This quarter was chosen as main participant-recruiting location since previous research highlighted Matongé as a focal for Congolese medicinal plant use and knowledge [ 24 , 26 ]. Starting from this first set of participants, other participants were recruited through snowball sampling [ 35 ], based on which we performed further purposive sampling.…”

“…In this context, medicinal plant trade in Matongé was documented by Van Andel and Fundiko [ 24 ]. However, there still remains a significant knowledge gap in the use of these plants within the Congolese community in Belgium [ 24 , 26 ].…”

Role of ethno-phytomedicine knowledge in healthcare of COVID-19: advances in traditional phytomedicine perspective

“…, Ocimum sanctum L. , Cinnamomum verum J.Presl , Laurus nobilis L. , Musa x sapientum L. , Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry , Averrhoa carambola L. , Nigella sativa L. , Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck , Citrus x aurantium L. , Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze , Zingiber officinale Roscoe Hossain et al [ 57 ] Belgium (Congolese community) 13 Artemisia annua L. , Citrus spp., and Zingiber officinale Roscoe De Meyer et al [ 40 ] North India 24 Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet, Allium sativum L. , Aloe vera (L.) Burm. F, Andrographis paniculata (Burm.…”

Digital Ethnobiology: exploring the digisphere in search of traditional and indigenous knowledge and practices

“…COVID-19 was considered a disease similar to malaria, so herbal methods traditionally used to prevent and treat malaria were promoted within these transnational networks to prevent and treat COVID-19. According to the information disseminated through social digital networks, TCAM practices were quickly reshaped and adapted to work against COVID-19, and are by definition new TCAM practices, given their use in a completely new context (De Meyer et al 2022).…”