Describing chronic kidney disease of unknown origin: anthropological noticing and the 'residual' category. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kierans, Ciara; Padilla-Altamira, Cesar
• Other Names: Vitellone Nicole guest-editor.; Mair Michael guest-editor.; Kierans Ciara guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Qualitative research. Volume 21:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 360
• Page End: 375
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Failing kidneys -- thin and thick description -- anthropology -- entanglements -- environment -- residual categories -- Mexico -- CKDu; Qualitative research -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 300.72
• DOI: 10.1177/1468794120972605
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-7941

Abstract

Focusing on 'chronic kidney disease of unknown origin' (CKDu), this paper revisits ethnographic preoccupations with 'thin' and 'thick' descriptions in the context of the unexplained emergence of this unruly disease. CKDu has recently emerged in impoverished sites across the Global South as a 'medical enigma' that defies easy description. Despite growing research efforts from various quarters, however, the search for specific causes using conventional forms of analysis has made little progress. Taking CKDu as a residual category and a contemporary case of society–environment–body entanglements (Latimer and Gomez, 2019; Latour, 2018), we engage Heather Love's descriptive turn as a provocation to examine what it is that is encountered in encounters with 'the enigma of CKDu'. In doing so, we highlight the role of thick and thin descriptions (cf. Love, 2013) in terms of the political relations they make differently visible. We argue both are critical to the 'art of noticing' (Tsing, 2015).