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Living with diabetes and hypertension in Tunisia: popular perspectives on biomedical treatment

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives

The growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases across the Middle East and North Africa poses major challenges for underfunded health services. This article presents data on the perspectives of ordinary Tunisians who are coping with two of these diseases—diabetes and hypertension—and who are obtaining treatment through Tunisian public health clinics. Little has been written to date on patient experiences of biomedical treatment in Maghreb countries.

Methods

Based on qualitative methods and semi-structured interviews with 24 patients attending two clinics, one urban and one rural.

Results

We examine popular aetiological beliefs, ideas about biomedical treatment and its implications, and comparative views on the benefits and drawbacks of treatment in both public and private clinics.

Conclusions

We highlight two main themes. One was nostalgia for a recent past when ‘pure’ and ‘natural’ food, ‘proper’ meals and less stressful lives meant less chronic illness, with demanding and costly treatment. The other concerned communication in the clinic, and the recurrent dismay patients felt at what they saw as the cursory attention and guidance they received from clinic staff in public facilities.

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Acknowledgments

The research on which this article is based was conducted as part of MedCHAMPS, a project funded by the European Commission under the Framework 7 Programme (Grant No. 223075). We would like to acknowledge the contribution of Professor Julia Critchley, the Scientific Coordinator of MedCHAMPS.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CVD Epidemiology and Prevention Research Laboratory (CAVEPLA), Faculté de Médecine de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia

    Faten Tlili, Afef Skhiri & Habiba Ben Romdhane

  2. Institut National de Santé Publique (INSP), Tunis, Tunisia

    Faten Tlili

  3. Department of Sociology, Université de Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia

    Francine Tinsa

  4. Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Shahaduz Zaman & Peter Phillimore

  5. School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Peter Phillimore

Authors
  1. Faten Tlili
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  2. Francine Tinsa
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  3. Afef Skhiri
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  4. Shahaduz Zaman
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  5. Peter Phillimore
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  6. Habiba Ben Romdhane
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Phillimore.

Additional information

This article is part of the supplement "The rising burden of noncommunicable diseases in four Mediterranean countries and potential solutions".

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Tlili, F., Tinsa, F., Skhiri, A. et al. Living with diabetes and hypertension in Tunisia: popular perspectives on biomedical treatment. Int J Public Health 60 (Suppl 1), 31–37 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-014-0572-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-014-0572-8

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