Health problems and health-seeking behavior of Muslim women in southern India.

Abstract

The health of women and girls is of particular concern because, in many societies, they are disadvantaged by discrimination rooted in sociocultural factors that prevent them from benefiting from quality health services and attaining the best possible level of health. Muslim women face a number of unique health challenges, including discrimination, poverty, and lack of access to healthcare. These challenges can lead to a number of health problems, including mental health issues, chronic diseases, and infectious diseases. A descriptive research was conducted among the Muslim women in Dakshina Kannada among n = 675 participants drawn using two-stage stratified random sampling through interview method using semistructured questionnaire. The majority of the participants reported musculoskeletal and noncommunicable diseases. A majority of them resorted to modern medicine and there was a statistically significant association found with respect to spending on health problems (χ2 = 29.933, P < 0.001). The study reveals that women had a high incidence of musculoskeletal problems, and noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, carcinoma, kidney, diabetes, and liver problems. They preferred allopathic medicine and sought treatment from local public health centers and private clinics since the majority of them were homemakers.