AUTONOMY IN HEALTH CHALLENGED BY THE CULTURE OF PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS: THE CASE OF BENIN

Abstract

Health autonomy consists of the ability to express one’s needs and desires and to be able to make selfdetermined decisions related to one’s health. However, the collectivist nature of black African culture leads to the Beninese patient willingly confers or shares his autonomy and decision-making power with the care provider, family, spouse, ancestral spirits and oracle who complete his being. Both health professionals and patients are influenced by this socio-cultural context where a relationship of domination of the patient by the care provider predominates, and where the family, the spouse and the religious or supernatural forces stakeholders are also delegates of the decision of the patient about the care to be received. A collectivist health autonomy that integrates the patient as well as his family and metaphysical environment, while ensuring the well-being of the individual, would therefore be the best suited. In short, African socio-cultural realities are not obstacles to health autonomy. On the contrary, when they are taken into account in a rational way, they rather complete it, thus contributing to its full achievement.