"It's My Stepmother" Witchcraft, Social Relations, and Health Security in Ibibio, South-South Nigeria

In the 21st century, where health care institutions are relatively accessible to ensure human health, and where (particularly in health care support) the degree of interdependence is continuously emphasized, witchcraft belief among the Ibibio of South-South Nigeria continues to influence social relations, and forms the basis for the determination of health security or lack thereof among the people. Relying on ethnographic study of the Ibibio, this article examines how social relations are constructed within the context of witchcraft beliefs, the influence of witchcraft beliefs on people's understanding of health, and how witchcraft beliefs affect access to health care institutions present in the society. The study reveals that Ibibio people have a strong belief in witchcraft and use this faith to draw a line between the state of well-being, success, and good behavior, and the state of illness, failure, wickedness and bad behavior. The Ibibio's strong belief in witchcraft is a serious factor in explaining why 1) many people ignore modern healthcare facilities; 2) the traditional kinship support system in illness is declining; and 3) morbidity and mortality especially due to HIV/AIDS is on the increase.