Dying in the Village Surrounded by Family
The development of biomedical care in Mauritania has increased the number of patients being diagnosed with non-communicable diseases—especially cancer—, often at an advanced stage. Many of these patients return home to villages far from hospitals when they perceive their curative treatment has finished. This context produces particular end-of-life situations, creating new conditions for families. This article proposes to study the local forms of end-of-life support arising from these situations. It is based on an anthropological study carried out in several villages of the Senegal River Valley, combining interviews with health workers practicing in these areas, relatives who cared for a patient at the end of life, imams and respected residents of the villages. All participants agree on the imperative need to surround the person, to support them morally and to preserve their dignity. However, these end-of-life experiences test their roles and the values they defend. This work provides elements to facilitate the discussion on the value of promoting palliative care in rural areas.