When religion ‘infects’ science

Faith heals. But blind faith kills. Whereas it is good to have a strong faith, whether in God or whatever, when challenges emerge in life, it is important to tread cautiously or at least look at both sides of the coin when it comes to health complications. There was once this relative back in Uganda as we were growing up who had it that every ailment could be healed through prayers. Hospital is not something she would discuss. She believed with prayers, all health issues would be settled. “By His strike, I’m healed,” she would quote the scriptures. But one day, her daughter was on the verge. She eventually gave in and the little girl was saved on drip when the bout of malaria that had infected her was hitting the edge. Fast-forward and it has been quite a shock seeing a woman in the City of Kigali, a woman who is seemingly elightened enough but does not value health facilities, insisting on God. Recently, she gave birth to a baby girl. Her pastor had said “after seeing through her womb” that she was expecting a baby boy. She had been confident of the pastor’s revelation, and, although she is not disappointed, there are some glaring health issues in her trail. One is that she did not seek antenatal care throughout her pregnancy. With six children down the road, I shudder to think of the possibility that she has been having all her babies without attending antenatal care. That is as dangerous as a cliff hanger. And, in this case, if there is anything to vindicate the prayers, then it is the fact that all her children are healthy, despite overlooking the hospital for the Bible. Antenatal care is the assessment and care of the pregnant woman and her unborn child. During antenatal visits, information regarding previous pregnancies, illnesses, past hospital admissions, the family’s medical history and how the client interacts within her family and society is obtained. Height, weight and blood pressure are recorded. Special laboratory tests are also done. Blood test is used to determine blood grouping and the presence of disease and infection. Urine is also tested. It is extremely important to obtain a “clean catch” urine specimen so that the result of the urine test is a correct one. At the second antenatal visit results of these tests are entered on your clinic record and your clinic passport. Clients are given health supplements. Even when birth takes place in hospital, non- or under-attendance at antenatal care carries a substantially elevated risk of severe adverse pregnancy outcome. Underlying adverse health behavior and possible abuse indicate close surveillance of the newborn. Scientific review suggests that women with low-risk pregnancies can safely have fewer antenatal care visits. But completely shunning antenatal care is akin to tinkering with fate. Then there is the question of various post-natal health issues, including the immunisation of the children. But where religious turns out to play like a poisoned chalice for many a woman, especially in Africa, it is highly unlikely that one who shuns antenatal care would care any bit about post-natal and neonatal bits to the medical index. It is worse with immunisation, an intervention that for years has had negative perceptions about its worth and effects, not only in the developing world but also those economies with advances medical care. Religion is a good thing. It keeps believers going strong. It instill willpower in believers. But diseases do not know the place of worship. However, wise counsel will always dictate that faith is balanced with common sense. That common sense is recognising that taking medical care is part of the bargain in life. If it must be a prayer, let that prayer be to reinforce the ability of the modern medicine in treating the ailment for which it is prescribed.

Insight

When religion ‘infects’ science