Approaches to Muslim Women’s Health Care: implications for the development of culturally-sensitive medicine

Article Sidebar

Requires Subscription or Fee PDF (USD 25)
Published: Jun 30, 2011
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5750/ijpcm.v1i2.74

Main Article Content

Bianca Stella Rodrigues
Department of Medical Psychology and Psychiatry University of Campinas, SP, Brazil

Abstract

This study’s objective was a review updating the literature concerning Muslim women and their health care. To this end, a bibliographic search was conducted in the following databases: Web of Science, Pub Med, Lilacs, Sociological Abstracts, Scopus and Social Sciences, Full Text of articles written in English, Spanish and Portuguese, published since 2000. Twenty-nine articles were obtained for the study, which were divided into two categories: 1 - "original articles" and essays, 2 - theoretical papers that reflect the thought process on the subject. A scarcity of studies on the subject was detected. In the publications reviewed, a unanimous conclusion was a lack of knowledge of Islamic culture which acted as an impediment in Muslim women’s health care in the West. Key aspects related to: eye contact, shaking hands, the female's garb that conceals the face and body and the care given to females by male professionals. The language barrier, for those living in non-Islamic Western countries and the need to consult a medical expert other than to the family doctor in their home countries were other important factors. Women were observed to seek advice from family, friends and religious leaders on issues of a simpler nature. Discrimination and prejudice can occur in hospital care or even at doctor´s offices, suggesting a lack of understanding of Islamic culture. Inclusion of suitable information in the graduate curriculum and other forms of knowledge teaching is suggested, with the aim of developing effective approaches to transcultural and religiously sensitive medical practices.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 1 No. 2 (2011): June
Section
Regular Articles
Author Biography

Bianca Stella Rodrigues, Department of Medical Psychology and Psychiatry University of Campinas, SP, Brazil

Postgraduate Student, Mental Health Program, Department of Medical Psychology and Psychiatry University of Campinas, SP, Brazil

References

. Ahmed, S. and Reddy, L. A. (2007). Understanding the Mental Health Needs of American Muslims: Recommendations and considerations for practice. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development 35, 207-218.

. Ali, S.R., Liu, W.M. and Humedian, M. (2004). Islam 101:Understanding the religion and therapy Implications Professional Psychology: Research and practice 35(6), 635-642.

. Atkin, K., Ahmed, S., Hewison, J. and Green, J.M. (2008). Decision-Making and Ante-Natal Screening for Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Disorders. Current Sociology 56(1), 77-98.

. Banning, M., Hafeez, H., Faisal, S., Hassan, M., and Zafar, A. (2009). The impact of culture and sociological and psychological issues on Muslim patients suffering from breast cancer in Pakistan. Cancer Nursing 32(4), 317-324.

. Berger, G. and Peerson, A. (2009). Giving young Emirati women a voice: Participatory action research on physical activity. Health & Place 15, 117-124.

. Carter, D.J. and Rashidi, A. (2004). East Meets West Integrating Psychotherapy approaches for Muslim women. Holistic Nursing Practice. 18(3), 152-159.

. Colucci, E. and Martin, G. (2008). Religion and Spirituality along suicidal path. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 38(2), 229-244.

. Douk, S., Zineb, S.B., Nacef, F. and Halbreich, U. (2007). Women's mental health in the Muslim world: cultural, religious, and social issues. Journal of Affective Disorders 102, 177-189.

. Ghubash, R. and Eapen, V. (2009). Postpartum mental illness: perspectives from an Arabian Gulf Population. Psychological Reports 105, 127-136.

. Hamri, N.E. (2010). Approaches to family planning in Muslim communities. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care 36(1), 27-31.

. Hanley, J. (2007). The emotional wellbeing of Bangladeshi mothers During the postnatal period. Community Practitioner 80(5), 34-37.

. Hanlon, C., Whitley, R., Wondimagegn, D., Alem, A. and Prince, M. (2010). Between life and death: exploring the sociocultural context of antenatal mental distress in rural Ethiopia, Archives of Womens Mental Health 13(5), 385-393.

. Haque, A. (2004). Psychology from Islamic perspective: contributions of Early Muslim Scholars and Challenges to Contemporary Muslim Psychologists. Journal of Religion and Health 43(4), 357-376.

. Hessin, L. (2007). Abortion and Islam: Policies and Practice in the Middle East and North Africa. Reproductive Health Matters 15(29), 75-84.

. Hjelm, K., Bard, K., Nyberg, P. and Apelqvist, J. (2003). Religious and cultural distance in Beliefs about health and illness in women with diabetes mellitus of different origin living in Sweden. International Journal of Nursing Studies 40, 627-643.

. Inhorn, M.C. (2006). Making Muslim babies: IVF and gamete donation in Sunni versus Shi'a Islam. Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry 30, 427-450.

. Jeffery, P., Jeffery, R. and Jeffrey, G. (2008). Disputing contraception: Muslim reform, secular change and fertility. Modern Asian Studies 42, 519-548.

. Keefe, S.K. (2006). “Women Do What They Want”: Islam and permanent contraception in Northern Tanzania. Social Science and Medicine 63, 418-429.

. Lawrence, P. and Rozmus, C. (2001). Culturally sensitive care of the Muslim patient. Journal of Transcultural Nursing 2(3), 228-233.

. Mebrouk, J. (2008). Perception of nursing care: views of Saudi Arabian female nurses. Contemporary Nurse 28, 149-161.

. Millán, A. (2002). Malo para comer, bueno para pensar: crisis en la cadena socioalimentaria. In: Arnaiz MG (Coord). Somos lo que comemos: estudios de alimentación y cultura en España. Barcelona: Ariel. p. 277-395.

. Mistry, H., Bhugra, D., Chaleby, K., Khan, F. and Sauer, J. (2009). Veiled communication: Is uncovering necessary for psychiatric assessment? Transcultural Psychiatry 46(4), 642-650.

. Muijsenbergh, M.E.T.C. and Lagro-Janssen, A.L.M. (2006). Urinary incontinence in Moroccan and Turkish women: a qualitative study on impact and preferences for treatment. British Journal of General Practice 56, 945-949.

. Narayanasamy, A. and Andrews, A. (2000). Culture impact of Islam on the future directions of nurse education. Nurse Education Today 20, 57-64.

. Rassool, G.H. (2000). The crescent and Islam: healing, nursing and the spiritual dimension. Some considerations towards and understanding of the Islamic perspectives on caring. Advanced Nursing Journal 32 (6), 1476-1484.

. Reitmanova, S., Gustafson, D.L. (2008). "They cannot understand it": maternity health and care needs of immigrant muslin women in St. John's, Newfoundland. Maternal and Child Health Journal 12, 101-111.

. Sargent, C. and Larchanche, S. (2007). The Muslim body and the politics of immigration in France: popular and biomedical representations of Malian migrant women. Body and Society 13(3), 79-102.

. Simpson, J.L. and Carter, K. (2008). Muslim women's Experiences with health care providers in a rural area of the United States. Journal of Transcultural Nursing 19(1), 16-23.

. Westra, A.E., Willems, D.L. and Smit, B.J. (2009). Communicating with Muslin parents: "The four principles" are not culturally neutral to the Suggested. European Journal of Paediatrics 168, 1383-1387.

. Worth, A., Irshad, T., Bhopal, R., Usher, J., Brown, D. and Lawton, J. (2009). Vulnerability and access to care for South Asian Sikh and Muslim patients with life limiting illness in Scotland: prospective longitudinal qualitative study British Medical Journal 338, 183.

. Yosef, A.R.O. (2008). Health beliefs, practice, and priorities for health care of Arab Muslim in the United States. Journal of Transcultural Nursing 19(3), 284-291.