EXPLORING SUPERSTITIOUS HEALTH BELIEFS AMONG THE BALTI COMMUNITY OF GHANCHE, GILGIT-BALTISTAN

Abstract

Superstition is a belief that is not based on scientific knowledge, nor it has any logic which is primarily related with social setting and conditions. This study was designed to explore the superstitious health beliefs in Balti community of district Ghanche, Gilgit-Baltistan. Health beliefs regard superstitions; Dam, Durood, and Taveez along with other supernatural aspects such as black magic, ghosts, and supernatural force. The previous studies have been shown that our forefather has strong belief on superstitious thing. Theoretically, Albert Bandura said in “Social Learning Theory” that individuals learn through personal and environmental factors, which is one of the cores of this study. Sample for the research has been collected from 10 respondents and processed Purposive research technique to understand superstitious health belief. The data was analyzed through thematic analysis. The results show that most of the respondents did not believe in superstitious beliefs. The finding of the studies has also shown that people treat from traditional healer but couldn’t recover the patient; they have negative impact on their life. Few respondents have experienced and listen that for treatment of Hepatitis people went to a local Hakeem” and “Moulvi”, they treat them by keeping fire on head, but this treatment has bad experience with the people of Balti community. The nutshell of this study is that education is the major factor where people come to know importance of education and scientific development. Furthermore, social media also play a vital role to reduce these kinds of beliefs. Infect these are some major tools which subdue people’s beliefs from superstitions, and start to think rationally, about life and death of person-health. Keywords: Superstition, Superstitious Health Belief, Hepatitis, Ghanche, Gilgit-Baltistan, Taveez, Supernatural Beliefs, Molvi, Hakeem.