¿Qué es la interculturalidad en la cárcel de San Pedro (La Paz, Bolivia)? Algunas reflexiones desde “dentro”

Abstract

This article explores the concept of “interculturality”in a very critical context, San Pedro prison. I outline some ideas in relation to certain diseases in the prison and I argue on the“traditional indigenous culture” and “Western biomedical culture” often considered as two homogeneous, separated and no connected blocks. From the point of view of the patients-prisoners, for exemple, nosological categories are much more “fluid ”, as their “therapeutic itinerary”, which is much more influenced by the need for any kind of care than observations on “culture”. I consider as well the importance and difficulty to create ”social networks" useful for the outcome of the disease among people discriminated, excluded and abandoned, with no access to any type of health care. I assume that a process of hegemony/subalternity dominate in a clear and evident way in San Pedro prison, as outside, in rural or marginal areas of the city.

Keywords

• social networks
• Bolivia
• prison
• discrimination
• selfcare