Community Beliefs Research Articles

Incorporating Malay Communicative and Cultural Values in Discourse: An Analysis of Mahathir Mohamed’s Orations

The cultural values and beliefs of the Malaysian community play a substantial role in shaping their communication approach and strategies. This study was to investigate how Malay values and beliefs were incorporated in communication in one of the most effective speeches of Mahathir Mohamed as a prominent leader in the Southern East of Asia and how these values were employed to influence his audience. The thematic analysis was used to analyse the selected speech and identify key themes, ideas, and topics that reflected Malay communicative and cultural values including indirectness, politeness, and Islamic beliefs. The findings demonstrated a notable contrast between the way Mahathir communicates and the discourse of indirectness commonly associated with Malay discourse. They showed that Mahathir employed direct language and assertive communicative approach to convey his messages and to avoid confusing his audience. This departure from traditional norms suggests that Mahathir recognizes the importance of clarity and precision in persuasive communication, prioritizing audience comprehension over conformity to cultural expectations. While Mahathir is unlike Malays in terms of indirectness, he employed other Malay communicative values such as referring to Islam principles, rationality and emotionality. He incorporated rationality (akal budi) with emotion (hati budi) to work together to influence his audience.

Antenatal care services in Yobe state Nigeria: The determinants and interventions to increase utilization

Introduction: Maternal and perinatal mortality are global public health issues and Nigeria in particular carries a high burden as 33,000 women dies every year though significant decline in maternal mortality ratio has been observed; neonatal mortality rate is 37 per 100,000 livebirths against the 2015 MDGs target of 12 per 100, 000 and stillbirth is unbearably high. Yobe State remains one of the regions with high maternal and perinatal death in Nigeria most of which are preventable with quality Antenatal care (ANC) services yet the ANC coverage is only 49% against the Nigerian national figure of 68.9% (which is moderate) and more than 67% of the pregnant women did not receive atleast 4 ANC visits in Yobe as recommended by World Health Organization. The aimed of this study was to analyse and recommend interventions in ANC services in order to increase utilization to improve maternal and perinatal health in Yobe State, Nigeria. Methods: This is an in-depth study on ANC service utilization from local and international literatures; databases used are PubMed, Medline and Global health. The conceptual framework is based on socio ecological model. The analytical tools used to analyse the proposed intervention strategies are based on the criteria of technical effectiveness, organisational feasibility, sociocultural feasibility, financial feasibility and equity consideration. Results: Multilevel determinants are responsible for low Utilization of ANC services in Yobe State which include intrapersonal (women education and literacy), interpersonal (families, peers, relatives influence), community (culture and beliefs), health system (health services, human resources, and health policy) and structural determinants (conflicts and poverty). Effective and feasible strategies to increase ANC services Utilization identified and appraised include outreach and health and education; men involvement in ANC; community based health insurance scheme; improving the skills and supportive supervision of ANC providers; employment of CHW and task shifting to lower cadres. Conclusion: ANC services requires multi-dimensional approach to increase Utilization, each intervention augment one another for the desired effects and better outcome of improving maternal and perinatal health. Further research is recommended on interventions of determinants like conflicts, poverty and women education which are beyond the scope of this dissertation and men involvement in ANC, community based health insurance scheme, improving the skills and supportive supervision of health ANC providers; task shifting to lower cadres and further research.

THE CHANGES ON THE TRADITIONAL BELIEFS OF THE BRUNEI MALAY COMMUNITY IN THE NORTH BORNEO (1881-1963)

Religion and traditional beliefs are important aspects of Brunei's Malay community's life. The influence of Islam on this community's traditional beliefs can be seen in almost every aspect of life, from birth to death. The expansion of Islam in North Borneo has altered not only the community's perception of superstitions but also their understanding of the application of true Islamic values in their everyday lives. The arrival of preachers in North Borneo changed the definition of the Bruneian Malay community's understanding and practice at the time. This paper will be discussed from two perspectives: the first is about the forms of practice and traditional beliefs of the Bruneian Malay community, and the second is about the influence of Islam on their traditional beliefs in North Borneo, especially on the west coast. This research will demonstrate that the influence of Islam brought by preachers has successfully changed the perspective and understanding of the Bruneian Malay community towards the guidelines and practices of true Islamic life. It is hoped that this study will be able to meet the objective of showing that, apart from political, economic, and social factors, aspects of religion and traditional beliefs also played a significant role in shaping the mentality and life pattern of the Bruneian Malay community after Sabah achieved independence.

The Significance of Studying the Relationship Between Folk Literature and Written Literature

Folk literature and written literature share a close-knit relationship, mutually enriching each other. This research not only deepens our understanding of community beliefs, doctrines, and worldviews but also explores and evaluates the cultural diversity and essence within the spiritual heritage of generations. Employing comparative analysis, historical research, and cultural literary analysis, this paper focuses on analyzing common factors, mutual influences, and the relationship between folk literature and written literature. This interaction fosters diversity and richness within national culture and folk literature. Studying this relationship not only generates new creative resources but also opens doors to understanding the history, culture, and mindset of a community. Consequently, it promotes understanding and respect for culture and diversity, contributing to the development and preservation of our cultural heritage.

Malaysia’s Orang Asli Women Roles in Indigenous Community

Globally, there are still many occurring social issues that may be a hindrance towards the achievement of the overall development of a nation, and one of them is gender equality. Although it is a social issue that can affect the society, gender equality however affects women more than men as it can put women at a more disadvantaged situations such as limited access towards good health and education, lower financial status, lower employment opportunities, and more. Gender equality should be properly addressed to ensure that women can enjoy the opportunities and rights that they deserved as part of the members of the society. In this study, we investigated the Orang Asli women roles from a selected tribes in Malaysia. The purpose of this study is to explore how Orang Asli women contribute to the preservation of the indigenous community's culture, language, and beliefs. This study employed a qualitative case study research design. To obtain data, a semi-structured interviewing tool was used. We collected and analysed data from Orang Asli women as participants of the study. The study's findings demonstrated that the Orang Asli women had meaningful roles in their community. The study's conclusions are designed to provide insight into how indigenous women can carry out their responsibilities in promoting gender equality and sustainable development in the indigenous community.

Etika Ritual Pada Pemujaan di Pura Sari Desa Selat Pandan Banten, Kecamatan Sukasada Kabupaten Buleleng

Buleleng Regency has many old and unique temples which are very interesting to study. One of them is Sari Temple in Selat Pandan Banten Village, Sukasada District. In addition to the unique shape of the building, this temple also has a ritual ethic that distinguishes it from temples in general. The purpose of writing this article is to examine the forms and values ​​of ritual ethics in this temple. By using the methods of observation, interviews and documentation studies, the authors examine the existence of Sari Temple and the ritual ethics of the temple. Based on research results, the sacred building at Sari Temple is still in the form of bebaturan which has been maintained until now. The community agreed to maintain the original form of the temple because apart from preservation purposes, it is also because of the community's belief that has been passed down from generation to generation to always maintain the originality of the temple. Apart from being related to the shape of the building, this temple also has ritual ethics, that are worship is carried out without using bells, not using gongs and performing dances in the main area of ​​the temple and not being allowed to offer four-legged animals (suku pat). All of this is a form of implementation of religious teachings and the people's efforts to continue to carry out the traditions from generation to generation.

Policies and cultural beliefs: Community perceptions about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Indonesia.

Vaccine hesitancy is a global concern and a significant threat to COVID-19 vaccination programs. This study aimed to explore vaccine hesitancy from the perspective of the Indonesian community related to policies and cultural beliefs. A descriptive qualitative approach was utilized in this study. Twenty participants were recruited from various settings to ensure the representation of experiences in different contexts in Indonesia. Audio-recorded, semi-structured, individual, in-depth interviews were carried out. Content analysis was performed to identify the main key themes. Twenty participants were recruited from various regions of Java Island, Indonesia. The participants revealed hesitancy about the COVID-19 vaccine, including the themes of mistrust, controversy, and the culture and beliefs of the community. This study highlights COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Indonesia, which may have implications for the community's perceptions and beliefs regarding the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. The trust issue remains a major challenge to convincing the community to accept the vaccine at the grassroots level. Targeted education and communication strategies are essential in addressing trust issues surrounding COVID-19 vaccines among critical stakeholders and religious leaders in Indonesia. Public health nursing plays a crucial role in fostering community acceptance and ensuring the success of vaccination programs.

Kearifan Lokal Budaya “Ngarot” dalam Usahatani Padi (Oryza Sativa) Gede Wangi (Study Kasus Di Desa Karedok Kecamatan Jatiede Kabupaten Sumedang)

Rice is a food source of energy as well as a staple food for most people, although now many people are starting to replace carbohydrates from rice with other staple foods such as potatoes, corn, sago and wheat. The aim of this research is to determine the form of local cultural wisdom "NGAROT" in the Gede Wangi rice farming business and to determine the income of farmers in the Gede Wangi rice farming business. The analytical method used in this research uses a descriptive method with a qualitative descriptive approach. The research results show that the income received by rice farmers is rice that has been milled by the respondent farmers themselves. Ngarot culture is one of the Indonesian traditional cultures, specifically in Sumedang Regency, which is still maintained and is closely related to the Sumedang Palace or the Sumedang Larang Kingdom. Ngarot culture is a community belief that they must bury buffalo heads after harvesting. Burials are carried out in the hope of bringing good things to the area and future harvests. In the midst of the rapid development of the times, local culture Ngarot was able to produce 28,800 kg of rice from 10 respondent farmers with an average cultivated land area of 5,894 m², with a selling price of rice of IDR 5,500.-/ Kg. The revenue (TR/Total Revenue) received from rice farming was IDR 158,400,000. So it can be concluded that the Gede Wangi rice farming activities provide benefits for farmers, so this rice farming is worth developing.

Community perceptions, beliefs and factors determining family planning uptake among men and women in Ekiti State, Nigeria: finding from a descriptive exploratory study

ObjectivesTo examine family planning through the community’s perception, belief system and cultural impact; in addition to identifying the determining factors for family planning uptake.DesignA descriptive exploratory study.SettingThree communities were selected...

Rights of Nature in Wetlands – Transformative Change for Securing the Future of Wetlands Through Effective Restoration

Indigenous Peoples, local communities and non-profit organizations have been leading a growing global “Rights of Nature” movement that reconsiders the human-Nature relationship and returns to a recognition of Nature’s living beingness and inherent rights (Kaufman and Martin 2021; https://celdf.org/rights-of-nature/ accessed 21 October 2023). These perspectives have been shared by many cultures and societies throughout history and continue to be the foundation beliefs of many communities. This alternative attitude moves the human-Nature relationship from one of exploitation, depletion, degradation and loss to one based on relational values such as reciprocity, gratitude, and respect. For the populations of modern nation states, this perspective constitutes a paradigm shift that may lead to greater success in achieving conservation goals and support for restoration, regeneration, and re-wilding initiatives that might implement the recently agreed Global Biodiversity Framework (https://www.cbd.int/gbf/ accessed 20 October 2023).

Black Pregnant and Postpartum Peoples' Perspectives on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders.

Introduction: Mental health and substance use disorders in pregnant and postpartum people (PPP) are common, and most will not receive adequate treatment. In addition, Black PPP experience higher rates of mental health conditions and are less likely to receive treatment compared with White PPP. Yet, our understanding of the experience of Black PPP with respect to these conditions is limited. The goal of this study was to better understand these experiences with respect to mental health, substance use, and barriers to treatment. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were completed with 68 Black PPP who were pregnant or had been pregnant in the last 24 months to gain an understanding of mental health and substance use screening and treatment during the peripartum and postpartum period. Interview data were analyzed with qualitative software, using a qualitative content analysis method, informed by grounded theory. Results: Four main themes were identified: (1) personal beliefs and views about mental health and substance use, (2) family and community beliefs about mental health and substance use, (3) personal experience with mental health and substance use, and (4) comfort in talking to others about mental health and substance use. Subthemes evolved within each of the four themes. Black PPP indicated that maternal mental health and substance use disorders are common in the Black community, but negative stigma related to these conditions often prevents PPP from talking about these conditions or seeking support or treatment despite believing that support and treatment can be beneficial. Conclusions: Clinical practice initiatives within this population can focus on advanced training for providers to more clearly understand personal experiences and related stigma related to mental health and substance use disorders, with the goal of supporting Black PPP mental health needs.

Recognising Religious Groups as Litigants: An International Law Perspective

The Australian Human Rights Commission has claimed that recognising religious corporations as litigants in religious discrimination claims departs from international human rights law, which only protects the rights of natural legal persons. In this article we respond to that claim by arguing that under international law, Australia should protect the ability of religious groups to be litigants, including corporations. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights requires Australia to respect and ensure individuals have the right to manifest their beliefs in community with others, and that such communities are protected against discrimination on religious grounds. This requirement entails granting religious groups the ability to pursue legal measures to preserve the enjoyment of these rights by their members.

The effect of appearance and functionality concerns, and weight status, on negative body image mental health literacy in women

Few studies have investigated community knowledge and beliefs about negative body image. Yet, low rates of recognition and help-seeking for body image concerns have been reported. Given the prevalence of body image problems and associated mental health risks in women, the current online study investigated negative body image mental health literacy in 260 women aged 18 to 64 years recruited via Prolific. The mental health literacy paradigm was employed in a 2 × 2 experimental design in which the effect of a target’s domain of body image concern (appearance versus body functionality) and weight status (“normal weight” versus “overweight”) was assessed on problem recognition, beliefs, and help-seeking recommendations. Overall, low symptom recognition was observed, and ratings for beliefs and help-seeking suggested low levels of stigma. However, significantly greater sympathy and lifestyle support recommendations were observed in the overweight compared to normal weight condition, and a domain × weight interaction suggested significantly fewer negative emotional reactions in the appearance overweight condition compared to appearance normal weight, and functionality overweight, conditions. The findings suggest a need for education about body image independent of weight status in women. Future research would benefit from examining diverse samples, broader functionality concerns, and stigma.

Were Needles Everywhere?: Differing Views on Syringe Waste and Disposal Associated With Needs-Based Syringe Services Programs Among Community Partners and Persons Who Inject Drugs

Background Community concerns surrounding syringe waste are a common barrier to syringe services program (SSP) implementation. In Kanawha County, West Virginia, community opposition to SSPs resulted in the closure of needs-based SSPs prior to and during an HIV outbreak among persons who inject drugs (PWID). This qualitative analysis examines views of PWID and community partners on syringe waste and disposal associated with needs-based SSPs. Methods Qualitative interviews with 26 PWID and 45 community partners (medical and social service providers, law enforcement personnel, policymakers, and religious leaders) were conducted. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded. Code summaries described participants’ views on syringe waste and disposal and needs-based SSPs. Results Community partners and PWID who favored needs-based SSPs reported that needs-based SSPs had not affected or reduced syringe waste. Conversely, community partners who favored one-to-one exchange models and/or barcoded syringes described needs-based SSPs increasing syringe waste. Community partners often cited pervasive community beliefs that SSPs increased syringe waste, risk of needlesticks, drug use, and crime. Community partners were unsure how to address syringe waste concerns and emphasized that contradictory views on syringe waste posed barriers to discussing and implementing SSPs. Conclusions Participants’ views on whether syringe waste was associated with needs-based SSPs often aligned with their support or opposition for needs-based SSPs. These differing views resulted in challenges finding common ground to discuss SSP operations amid an HIV outbreak among PWID. SSPs might consider addressing syringe waste concerns by expanding syringe disposal efforts and implementing community engagement and stigma reduction activities.

Indigestible performances: Women, punk, and the limits of British multiculturalism in Nida Mazoor’s We Are Lady Parts

ABSTRACT This article examines the political potential and limits of Muslim punk feminism within the context of multicultural Britain through a reading of the first season of Channel 4’s 2021 dramedy We Are Lady Parts. The show explores how the religious and cultural beliefs of Muslim communities are represented as incompatible with contemporary British values. To situate the cultural politics of the text, the article considers the characters in relation to their exclusion from “legitimate” British society, as well as their original feminist strategies as a subversive and novel response to it. Muslim women are read through a nexus of social factors – international and national. These readings can be viewed as both productive and conflicting: at some times producing important rereadings of the submissive and oppressed orientalized Muslim female figure, while at others challenging the possibility of a stable Muslim female identity as positioned in normative models of British assimilationist multiculturalism.

Legal entrepreneurship and the evolution of multidimensional advocacy in social movements: the case of marriage equality

AbstractThe emergence and dissemination of new legal ideas can play an important role in sparking change in the way activists in marginalized communities understand their rights and pursue their objectives. How and why do the legal beliefs of such communities evolve? We argue that the vigorous advocacy of new legal ideas by entrepreneurs and the harnessing of specialized media to help disseminate those ideas are important mechanisms in this evolution. We use the rise of marriage equality as a central legal priority in the mainstream American LGBTQ+ rights movement as a case study to illustrate this phenomenon. Using a mixed-methods analysis of Evan Wolfson’s legal advocacy and an examination of The Advocate, we investigate how Wolfson developed and disseminated legal ideas about same-sex marriage. We show how this advocacy eventually dominated discussion of the issue among elite LGBTQ+ legal actors and the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ publication. However, Wolfson’s advocacy tended to emphasize LGBTQ+ integration into “mainstream” American culture and prioritized the interests and values of relatively privileged subgroups within the LGBTQ+ community. Our research informs our understanding of the interplay between legal advocacy and media reporting in the development of LGBTQ+ rights claims and the strategies adopted to achieve them.

제주도 당신앙 속 여산신(女山神)의 흔적과 변주

In this Thesis, we looked back on the traces of the “female mountain god” that were rarely dealt with in the category of community beliefs on Jeju Island. In particular, the discussion aimed to concretely reconstruct the traces of the “sequence of female mountain gods” Jeju Island's Belief in Dang. which has a close relationship with “Mt. Halla” and can be assumed as a “specific type” and “the sequencing of Belief in Dang” It is a common academic belief to regard the Seonma-Seonpa(Seon-Mago) in Jang Han-cheol'’s “Pyo-Hae-rok” as the same existence. but there were not a few discussions refuting this. As a result, based on the existence of the “Madame of Seonnyeo-guk” of Guayangdang, a person most similar to the Seonma-Seonpa(Seon-Mago), Jeju Island, which has been handed down, and the place of Gongju Mt.Mudeung, it was heard that similar gods can be found in several villages related to the god's faith in the middle of Jeju Island. These female mountain gods were closely related to the west direction as “female mountain gods with a history of overseas,” which had been differentiated and expanded as spouses of male gods of Mt. Halla descent. In addition, based on this assumption, the correlation between these female mountain gods and the goddess se-myung-ju was solved in relation to the goddess Beck-ju-to served by Songdang-Bonhyangdang and Sehwa-Bonhyangdang.

The Symbolic Meaning of The Javanese Tradition of Munggahna Kuda-Kuda in The Community of Malang District

The procession of installing the roof frame of a house, which is termed as Munggahna Kuda-kuda in Javanese society, is carried out with a procession. This is done as a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation and is believed to prevent the owner of the house from bad luck that might happen in the future. The purpose of this research is 1) to describe the procession of Munggahna Kuda-kuda Malang Regency, 2) the symbolic meaning of offerings in Munggahna Kuda-kuda Malang Regency. This type of research is descriptive qualitative with a semiotic approach in studying the culture of the local community. The sampling technique in this study used nonprobability sampling with purposive sampling. Research data and data sources in the form of the Mungahna Kuda-kuda tradition in Javanese society, especially in Malang Regency. The data collection technique in this research is by conducting interviews with sources of literature study on manuscripts. The results of this study are in the form of a procession in this tradition starting with determining the naga tahun or cardinal direction in accordance with the month in the Javanese calendar. second, determining the naga dina or good day in accordance with community beliefs. Third, a joint prayer event attended by workers and local residents with a dish consisting of sega golong and jenang sengkolo or glutinous rice porridge consisting of two colors, red and white. The fourth is the process of installing the roof of the house which is accompanied by the installation of offerings. Each offering consists of rice, corn, sugar cane, bananas, a red and white flag, and a set of clothes (sewek, shirt, and veil). Each symbol has its own meaning. The determination of the direction of the wind, the day, and the symbols in the offerings and selamatan dishes have a good purpose, namely as a manifestation of gratitude and prayers for safety to the Almighty in accordance with community beliefs.

“Problems you can live with” versus emergencies: how community members in rural Ethiopia contend with conditions requiring surgery

Background98% of people with surgical conditions living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) do not receive safe, timely and affordable surgical and anesthesia care. Research exploring barriers to receiving care has tended to be narrow in focus, often facility-based and ignoring the community beliefs, experiences and behaviours that will be an essential component of closing the gap in surgical care. Using qualitative methods, we captured diverse community perspectives in rural Ethiopia: exploring beliefs, perceptions, knowledge and experiences related to surgical conditions, with the overall aim of (re)constructing explanatory models.MethodsOur study was nested within a community-based survey of surgical conditions conducted in the Butajira Health and Demographic Surveillance Site, southern Ethiopia, and a follow-up study of people accessing surgical care in two local hospitals. We carried out 24 semi-structured interviews. Participants were community members who needed but did/did not access surgical care, community-based healthcare workers and traditional bone-setters. Interviews were conducted in Amharic, audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. We initially carried out thematic analysis and we recognized that emerging themes were aligned with Kleinman’s explanatory models framework and decided to use this to guide the final stages of analysis.ResultsWe found that community members primarily understood surgical conditions according to severity. We identified two categories: conditions you could live with and those which required urgent care, with the latter indicating a clear and direct path to surgical care whilst the former was associated with a longer, more complex and experimental pattern of help-seeking. Fear of surgery and poverty disrupted help-seeking, whilst community narratives based on individual experiences fed into the body of knowledge people used to inform decisions about care.ConclusionsWe found explanatory models to be flexible, responsive to new evidence about what might work best in the context of limited community resources. Our findings have important implications for future research and policy, suggesting that community-level barriers have the potential to be responsive to carefully designed interventions which take account of local knowledge and beliefs.

Acculturation of Hindu and Buddhist Culture at Goa Giri Putri Temple Nusa Penida

The purpose of this study is to determine the process of Hindu-Buddhist cultural acculturation in Goa Giri Putri Temple, identifying the form and meaning contained in the cultural acculturation. This study uses the theory of cultural acculturation to analyse the process and forms of the cultural acculturation that occur in the temple and multiculturalism theory to analyse the meaning/values involved in the cultural acculturation. The method used in this research is qualitative. Data were collected through an in-depth interview and observation. The data were analysed using a descriptive-analytical technique. The findings show that the process of cultural acculturation in Goa Giri Putri temple is the openness of the community to the entry of outside culture (Chinese culture) into Hindu culture and the existence of community beliefs or faith. Acculturation can be seen in the form of Buddhist worship statues placed alongside the worship (pelinggih) of Hindu gods at the Goa Giri Putri Temple. The means of worship used also do not distinguish between Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. Hindu-Buddhist cultural acculturation in Goa Giri Putri Temple has the meaning of providing an understanding of multicultural values and socio-religious values for the people of Karangsari Hamlet, Suana Village, Nusa Penida.