248:
certification". Birth registration still remains a problem since rural areas since there are less resources and labor force availability in rural areas. According to information from 2014 Ghana
Demographic and Health Survey, the births of 28.89% children in Ghana have never been registered. This rate is the lowest among children born to young mothers, those without formal education and mothers living in rural areas.
226:
An elder woman in the child's family administers the "concoction" (which may or may not contain toxic substances) to the alleged spirit child. Following the death of the child, the "concoction man" wraps it in an old sleeping mat, disposes of the body in the forest/bush, and conducts a ceremony to
271:
AfriKids is a child rights Non-governmental organization that has created education programs about the practice of spirit children. Since 2002, AfriKids has ended the practices in 58 communities and preventing about 243 deaths. Joe
Asakibeem works with AfriKids. Concoction men, mothers and elderly
247:
Ghana passed the
Registration of Births and Deaths Act of 1965 requiring all births and deaths to be registered. Its goal is to "provide accurate and reliable information on all births and deaths occurring within Ghana for socio-economic development of the country through their registration and
227:
ensure that the harmful spirits do not return. The "dongo" and "concoction" are said to send the spirit back to the bush as spirit children are believed to be harmful nature spirits that impersonate humans. Other sources say that the dead child returns to the world of their ancestors.
130:, they may also be a spirit child. This "refusal to thrive" indicates that the child may be a harmful spirit. Families fear their child as there is little information about modern childcare accessible to them and believe that the child will eventually destroy the family's home.
243:
Ethics Review Board and the NHRC Institutional Review Board, found that 36% of spirit children deaths are due to natural causes, rather than by intentional means. Rights of the child are not guaranteed without a birth certificate since they are not legally registered.
214:). The men will also prepare a tea (the "concoction") with a root known as "bunbunlia". Inside of the dongo, there is a "black medicine" that the men add to the tea. The black medicine is composed of various burned plant parts that are mixed with
138:
It is believed that women can attract a harmful spirit if they walk while they eat. Supposedly, these harmful spirits are attracted to human food and will enter and impregnate the woman's
54:
of
Northern Ghana. These children primarily come from poor, rural areas. However, if a spirit child is found to be "good" there are no punishments for the child or their family.
268:, an undercover reporter set out to find the people responsible for the practices. Christianization also has helped limit the occurrence of spirit children practices.
126:
Spirit children often have disabilities or other chronic illnesses. If the mother is sick during pregnancy, the child may also perceived to be a spirit child. If a
38:
is greatly stigmatized and very often the only way considered socially acceptable to treat disabled children is to kill or exorcize them with the assistance of a
210:
Spirit children are treated by "concoction men". The family seeks out a "concoction man" to treat the spirit child using a "dongo" (a sacred cup made from
150:
to be the same spirit child returning. When this occurs, the most recent stillborn is mutilated by the villagers so that the same child cannot return.
185:
encourage these practices. It is commonly believed that spirit children do not deserve a place among humans. This strong religious belief of infant
1368:
239:. One study suggested that between 22 and 27% of infant mortalities are attributable to the spirit children tradition. A study conducted by the
564:
352:
19:
This article is about a traditional sub-Saharan
African belief system about disabled children. For the concept in Mormon cosmology, see
20:
1343:
1358:
1338:
1147:
921:
682:
1298:
376:
142:. Actions that attract harmful spirits include "using unapproved entrances and exits to a house", washing another woman's
1363:
281:
1256:
1308:
386:
1348:
1353:
1313:
476:"The stories of 'snake children': killing and abuse of children with developmental disabilities in West Africa"
1318:
1293:
1070:"Registered or unregistered? Levels and differentials in registration and certification of births in Ghana"
951:"Registered or unregistered? Levels and differentials in registration and certification of births in Ghana"
754:
378:
Issues in
Sociology and Social Work: Aging, Medical, and Missionary Research and Application: 2011 Edition
1333:
1328:
1303:
171:
324:
1323:
699:
610:
423:
291:
51:
1170:"Spirit Children: Illness, Poverty, and Infanticide in Northern Ghana, written by Aaron R. Denham"
235:
The tradition was criminalized in Ghana in 2013, yet is still widely practiced due to the lack of
814:
170:
syndromes. Among all the ethnic groups found in Ghana, women are more likely than men to have
240:
272:
women in the child's family are given payments from AfriKids for them to stop the practice.
863:
700:"Chasing spirits: Clarifying the spirit child phenomenon and infanticide in Northern Ghana"
611:"Chasing spirits: Clarifying the spirit child phenomenon and infanticide in Northern Ghana"
34:
term for a disabled child who is believed to possess magical powers that cause misfortune.
8:
1010:"Birth registration and access to health care: an assessment of Ghana's campaign success"
35:
1104:
1069:
1042:
1009:
985:
950:
839:
808:
Kassah, Alexander Kwesi; Kassah, Bente
Lilljan Lind; Agbota, Tete Kobla (August 2012).
787:
698:
Denham, Aaron R.; Adongo, Philip B.; Freydberg, Nicole; Hodgson, Abraham (2010-08-01).
609:
Denham, Aaron R.; Adongo, Philip B.; Freydberg, Nicole; Hodgson, Abraham (2010-08-01).
320:
265:
236:
439:
1264:
1189:
1143:
1109:
1091:
1047:
1029:
990:
972:
917:
882:
843:
831:
779:
771:
727:
719:
678:
638:
630:
503:
495:
451:
443:
382:
301:
261:
16:
Traditional belief about disabled children common in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa
715:
626:
1181:
1135:
1099:
1081:
1037:
1021:
980:
962:
909:
872:
823:
791:
763:
711:
670:
622:
487:
435:
264:. This book brought attention to the practice of killing spirit children. In 2013,
127:
902:"Shifting Maternal Responsibilities and the Trajectory of Blame in Northern Ghana"
809:
827:
859:"Of House or Bush: The Cultural Psychodynamics of Infanticide in Northern Ghana"
118:
animal is thought to cause the spirit of said animal to jump into a human host.
1169:
749:
190:
103:
1185:
1086:
967:
767:
1287:
1268:
1193:
1095:
1033:
976:
901:
886:
835:
775:
723:
634:
499:
447:
424:"Establishing the causes of childhood mortality in Ghana: the 'spirit child'"
329:
182:
99:
1127:
913:
530:
1232:"The Spirit Child Phenomenon: How Ghanaian communities are ending the fear"
1208:"The Spirit Child Phenomenon: How Ghanaian communities are ending the fear"
1139:
1113:
1051:
994:
783:
731:
642:
507:
455:
296:
167:
107:
95:
91:
87:
1025:
664:
674:
215:
211:
163:
66:
39:
750:"What has faith got to do with it? Religion and child survival in Ghana"
475:
286:
147:
143:
491:
21:
Mormon cosmology § Spirit intelligences and God's spirit children
1231:
1207:
111:
106:
and broken or deformed limbs. A spirit child may also be blamed on a
877:
858:
257:
194:
186:
166:." Community members also note that the spirit children often have
115:
70:
178:
158:
Members of the community describe spirit children as "impulsive,
159:
139:
146:
at the riverside, and bathing at night. Many regard series of
58:
31:
697:
608:
62:
57:
Similar concepts and rituals include the "witch babies" of
663:
Fordyce, Lauren; Maraesa, AmĂnata, eds. (2012-04-15).
86:
Birth abnormalities that spirit children exhibit are
1068:Dake, Fidelia A. A.; Fuseini, Kamil (2018-06-13).
949:Dake, Fidelia A. A.; Fuseini, Kamil (2018-06-13).
807:
562:
350:
908:, Vanderbilt University Press, pp. 173–190,
422:Allotey, Pascale; Reidpath, Daniel (2001-04-01).
1285:
906:Risk, Reproduction, and Narratives of Experience
666:Risk, Reproduction, and Narratives of Experience
421:
221:
1254:
662:
1007:
121:
1008:Fagernäs, Sonja; Odame, Joyce (2013-04-25).
200:
1067:
948:
480:Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
205:
81:
1132:Witchcraft, Witches, and Violence in Ghana
1103:
1085:
1074:BMC International Health and Human Rights
1041:
1014:Bulletin of the World Health Organization
984:
966:
955:BMC International Health and Human Rights
876:
565:"Spirit Child: Ritual Killings in Ghana"
353:"Spirit Child: Ritual Killings in Ghana"
1369:Crimes involving Satanism or the occult
748:Gyimah, Stephen Obeng (November 2007).
1286:
899:
856:
850:
747:
230:
1063:
1061:
944:
942:
940:
938:
810:"Abuse of disabled children in Ghana"
803:
801:
743:
741:
604:
473:
381:. ScholarlyEditions. 9 January 2012.
133:
42:. Spirit children are referred to as
1134:, Berghahn Books, pp. 208–234,
857:Denham, Aaron R. (29 January 2020).
658:
656:
654:
652:
602:
600:
598:
596:
594:
592:
590:
588:
586:
584:
558:
556:
554:
552:
550:
525:
523:
521:
519:
517:
469:
467:
465:
417:
415:
413:
411:
409:
407:
405:
319:
153:
1167:
313:
282:Persecution of people with albinism
13:
1058:
935:
798:
738:
14:
1380:
649:
581:
563:Anas Aremeyaw Anas (2018-06-03).
547:
514:
462:
402:
351:Anas Aremeyaw Anas (2018-06-03).
181:religious beliefs combined with
1344:Discrimination in Guinea-Bissau
1248:
1224:
1200:
1161:
1120:
1001:
900:Denham, Aaron R. (2012-04-15),
893:
716:10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.04.022
691:
669:. Vanderbilt University Press.
627:10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.04.022
369:
344:
195:parents killing their children
69:, and the "mingi children" of
1:
1359:Discrimination in Ivory Coast
1339:Conspiracy theories in Africa
1255:Guardian Staff (2007-12-18).
1174:Journal of Religion in Africa
704:Social Science & Medicine
615:Social Science & Medicine
440:10.1016/S0277-9536(00)00207-0
428:Social Science & Medicine
307:
1257:"'Spirit' children of Ghana"
828:10.1080/09687599.2012.673079
755:Journal of Biosocial Science
474:Bayat, Mojdeh (2014-01-27).
222:Administering the concoction
7:
1299:Disability in Guinea-Bissau
275:
251:
114:. Intentional killing of a
10:
1385:
1364:Discrimination in Tanzania
122:Disabilities and illnesses
61:, the "snake children" of
18:
1309:Disability in Ivory Coast
1186:10.1163/15700666-12340116
1087:10.1186/s12914-018-0163-5
968:10.1186/s12914-018-0163-5
768:10.1017/s0021932007001927
398:– via Google Books.
201:Explanation of the ritual
76:
1168:Coe, Cati (2017-07-18).
815:Disability & Society
292:Kassena-Nankana District
206:Preparing the concoction
110:or the death of village
82:Physical characteristics
52:Kassena-Nankana district
1349:Discrimination in Ghana
914:10.2307/j.ctv167594d.14
1354:Discrimination in Mali
1314:Disability in Tanzania
1140:10.2307/j.ctt9qcswd.12
189:explains the cultural
1026:10.2471/blt.12.111351
241:University of Alberta
1319:Disability in Africa
864:Current Anthropology
675:10.2307/j.ctv167594d
260:published the novel
128:child refuses to eat
1294:Disability in Ghana
323:(10 January 2013).
321:Anas, Anas Aremeyaw
231:Government response
36:Disability in Ghana
1334:African witchcraft
1329:Modern witch hunts
1304:Disability in Mali
266:Anas Aremeyaw Anas
237:birth registration
172:witchcraft beliefs
134:Attracting spirits
1324:Religion in Ghana
1149:978-1-78238-561-5
923:978-0-8265-1821-7
684:978-0-8265-1821-7
492:10.1111/jir.12118
302:The Famished Road
262:The Famished Road
154:Community Aspects
1376:
1279:
1278:
1276:
1275:
1252:
1246:
1245:
1243:
1242:
1228:
1222:
1221:
1219:
1218:
1204:
1198:
1197:
1180:(3–4): 439–441.
1165:
1159:
1158:
1157:
1156:
1128:"Witch Killings"
1124:
1118:
1117:
1107:
1089:
1065:
1056:
1055:
1045:
1005:
999:
998:
988:
970:
946:
933:
932:
931:
930:
897:
891:
890:
880:
854:
848:
847:
805:
796:
795:
745:
736:
735:
695:
689:
688:
660:
647:
646:
606:
579:
578:
576:
575:
560:
545:
544:
542:
541:
527:
512:
511:
471:
460:
459:
434:(7): 1007–1012.
419:
400:
399:
397:
395:
373:
367:
366:
364:
363:
348:
342:
341:
339:
337:
317:
1384:
1383:
1379:
1378:
1377:
1375:
1374:
1373:
1284:
1283:
1282:
1273:
1271:
1253:
1249:
1240:
1238:
1230:
1229:
1225:
1216:
1214:
1206:
1205:
1201:
1166:
1162:
1154:
1152:
1150:
1126:
1125:
1121:
1066:
1059:
1006:
1002:
947:
936:
928:
926:
924:
898:
894:
855:
851:
806:
799:
746:
739:
696:
692:
685:
661:
650:
607:
582:
573:
571:
561:
548:
539:
537:
529:
528:
515:
472:
463:
420:
403:
393:
391:
389:
375:
374:
370:
361:
359:
349:
345:
335:
333:
318:
314:
310:
278:
254:
233:
224:
208:
203:
183:food insecurity
177:Indeed, strong
156:
136:
124:
104:premature teeth
84:
79:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1382:
1372:
1371:
1366:
1361:
1356:
1351:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1321:
1316:
1311:
1306:
1301:
1296:
1281:
1280:
1247:
1223:
1199:
1160:
1148:
1119:
1057:
1020:(6): 459–464.
1000:
934:
922:
892:
878:10.1086/706989
849:
822:(5): 689–701.
797:
762:(6): 923–937.
737:
710:(3): 608–615.
690:
683:
648:
621:(3): 608–615.
580:
546:
513:
461:
401:
387:
368:
343:
325:"Spirit Child"
311:
309:
306:
305:
304:
299:
294:
289:
284:
277:
274:
253:
250:
232:
229:
223:
220:
207:
204:
202:
199:
191:psychodynamics
162:, crafty, and
155:
152:
135:
132:
123:
120:
83:
80:
78:
75:
50:in the former
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1381:
1370:
1367:
1365:
1362:
1360:
1357:
1355:
1352:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1335:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1312:
1310:
1307:
1305:
1302:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1291:
1289:
1270:
1266:
1262:
1258:
1251:
1237:
1233:
1227:
1213:
1209:
1203:
1195:
1191:
1187:
1183:
1179:
1175:
1171:
1164:
1151:
1145:
1141:
1137:
1133:
1129:
1123:
1115:
1111:
1106:
1101:
1097:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1079:
1075:
1071:
1064:
1062:
1053:
1049:
1044:
1039:
1035:
1031:
1027:
1023:
1019:
1015:
1011:
1004:
996:
992:
987:
982:
978:
974:
969:
964:
960:
956:
952:
945:
943:
941:
939:
925:
919:
915:
911:
907:
903:
896:
888:
884:
879:
874:
870:
866:
865:
860:
853:
845:
841:
837:
833:
829:
825:
821:
817:
816:
811:
804:
802:
793:
789:
785:
781:
777:
773:
769:
765:
761:
757:
756:
751:
744:
742:
733:
729:
725:
721:
717:
713:
709:
705:
701:
694:
686:
680:
676:
672:
668:
667:
659:
657:
655:
653:
644:
640:
636:
632:
628:
624:
620:
616:
612:
605:
603:
601:
599:
597:
595:
593:
591:
589:
587:
585:
570:
566:
559:
557:
555:
553:
551:
536:
532:
526:
524:
522:
520:
518:
509:
505:
501:
497:
493:
489:
485:
481:
477:
470:
468:
466:
457:
453:
449:
445:
441:
437:
433:
429:
425:
418:
416:
414:
412:
410:
408:
406:
390:
388:9781464966767
384:
380:
379:
372:
358:
354:
347:
332:
331:
330:Aljazeera.com
326:
322:
316:
312:
303:
300:
298:
295:
293:
290:
288:
285:
283:
280:
279:
273:
269:
267:
263:
259:
249:
245:
242:
238:
228:
219:
217:
213:
198:
196:
192:
188:
184:
180:
175:
173:
169:
165:
161:
151:
149:
145:
141:
131:
129:
119:
117:
113:
109:
105:
101:
100:hydrocephalus
97:
93:
89:
74:
72:
68:
64:
60:
55:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
33:
29:
22:
1272:. Retrieved
1261:The Guardian
1260:
1250:
1239:. Retrieved
1235:
1226:
1215:. Retrieved
1211:
1202:
1177:
1173:
1163:
1153:, retrieved
1131:
1122:
1077:
1073:
1017:
1013:
1003:
958:
954:
927:, retrieved
905:
895:
871:(1): 77–99.
868:
862:
852:
819:
813:
759:
753:
707:
703:
693:
665:
618:
614:
572:. Retrieved
568:
538:. Retrieved
534:
483:
479:
431:
427:
392:. Retrieved
377:
371:
360:. Retrieved
356:
346:
334:. Retrieved
328:
315:
297:Prayer camps
270:
255:
246:
234:
225:
209:
176:
168:malnutrition
157:
137:
125:
108:crop failure
96:spina bifida
85:
56:
47:
43:
28:spirit child
27:
25:
486:(1): 1–10.
216:shea butter
212:animal horn
164:mischievous
148:stillbirths
92:small heads
67:Ivory Coast
40:witchdoctor
1288:Categories
1274:2020-11-16
1241:2020-11-16
1217:2020-12-11
1155:2020-11-16
929:2020-11-16
574:2020-01-19
569:Al Jazeera
540:2020-11-16
362:2020-01-19
357:Al Jazeera
308:References
287:Changeling
144:calabashes
1269:0261-3077
1194:0022-4200
1096:1472-698X
1080:(1): 25.
1034:0042-9686
977:1472-698X
961:(1): 25.
887:0011-3204
844:143902289
836:0968-7599
776:0021-9320
724:0277-9536
635:0277-9536
500:0964-2633
448:0277-9536
256:In 1991,
179:animistic
112:livestock
48:kinkiriko
1236:AfriKids
1212:AfriKids
1114:29895288
1052:24052683
995:29895288
784:17359561
732:20605304
643:20605304
535:AfriKids
508:24467696
456:11266045
336:3 August
276:See also
258:Ben Okri
252:Advocacy
187:alterity
71:Tanzania
65:and the
44:chichuru
32:Ghanaian
1105:5998598
1043:3777139
986:5998598
792:9378727
1267:
1192:
1146:
1112:
1102:
1094:
1050:
1040:
1032:
993:
983:
975:
920:
885:
842:
834:
790:
782:
774:
730:
722:
681:
641:
633:
531:"FAQs"
506:
498:
454:
446:
394:30 May
385:
77:Causes
840:S2CID
788:S2CID
116:totem
88:large
59:Benin
30:is a
1265:ISSN
1190:ISSN
1144:ISBN
1110:PMID
1092:ISSN
1048:PMID
1030:ISSN
991:PMID
973:ISSN
918:ISBN
883:ISSN
832:ISSN
780:PMID
772:ISSN
728:PMID
720:ISSN
679:ISBN
639:PMID
631:ISSN
504:PMID
496:ISSN
452:PMID
444:ISSN
396:2017
383:ISBN
338:2021
160:wise
140:womb
63:Mali
1182:doi
1136:doi
1100:PMC
1082:doi
1038:PMC
1022:doi
981:PMC
963:doi
910:doi
873:doi
824:doi
764:doi
712:doi
671:doi
623:doi
488:doi
436:doi
193:of
90:or
73:".
46:or
1290::
1263:.
1259:.
1234:.
1210:.
1188:.
1178:47
1176:.
1172:.
1142:,
1130:,
1108:.
1098:.
1090:.
1078:18
1076:.
1072:.
1060:^
1046:.
1036:.
1028:.
1018:91
1016:.
1012:.
989:.
979:.
971:.
959:18
957:.
953:.
937:^
916:,
904:,
881:.
869:61
867:.
861:.
838:.
830:.
820:27
818:.
812:.
800:^
786:.
778:.
770:.
760:39
758:.
752:.
740:^
726:.
718:.
708:71
706:.
702:.
677:.
651:^
637:.
629:.
619:71
617:.
613:.
583:^
567:.
549:^
533:.
516:^
502:.
494:.
484:59
482:.
478:.
464:^
450:.
442:.
432:52
430:.
426:.
404:^
355:.
327:.
218:.
197:.
174:.
102:,
98:,
94:,
26:A
1277:.
1244:.
1220:.
1196:.
1184::
1138::
1116:.
1084::
1054:.
1024::
997:.
965::
912::
889:.
875::
846:.
826::
794:.
766::
734:.
714::
687:.
673::
645:.
625::
577:.
543:.
510:.
490::
458:.
438::
365:.
340:.
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.