Women's Cultural Beliefs Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Cultural Beliefs of Afghan Refugee Women Toward Gynecological Cancer: A Qualitative Study.

Gynecological cancers constitute an important global health problem with increasing incidence and prevalence. The aim of this study was to explain gynecologic cancer knowledge, attitudes, and cultural beliefs of Afghan refugee women living in Türkiye. This research was carried out as a descriptive phenomenological design for qualitative research. The study was conducted at the Refugee Support Center Association in Eskişehir, Türkiye, and data were collected between January and April 2023, guided by a semi-structured interview guide. Nineteen Afghan refugee women were interviewed. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit participants. Content analysis method was used for data analysis. Four overarching themes that described Afghan women's gynecologic cancer knowledge, attitudes, and cultural beliefs were identified: (a) limited awareness and knowledge of gynecological cancer among women, (b) women's attitudes toward gynecological cancers, (c) women's cultural beliefs regarding gynecological cancer, and (d) healthcare system factors. In line with the main themes, subthemes were created for each main theme. Afghan refugee women, who were in the double risk group as both women and refugees, had insufficient knowledge of gynecological cancers, and their cultural beliefs and attitudes played an essential role in their access to gynecological cancer-related preventive healthcare services. It is recommended that training be planned to increase the awareness and knowledge of Afghan women on gynecological cancers, considering their cultural characteristics.

Pregnancy care for maternal and fetal wellbeing: an ethnography study

Background/Aims In Indonesia, cultural beliefs affect holistic healthcare practices. The aim of this study was to identify the effects of cultural beliefs on maternity care and fetal wellbeing. Methods This study used an ethnographic-qualitative design and was conducted in a community setting in West Java, Indonesia. A total of 16 participants of Sundanese culture were recruited based on information from local health workers and community leaders. Questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and observation sheets were used to collect data on cultural beliefs that impacted pregnant women. Data were analysed using an editing analysis style. Results The seven themes were: dietary practices and restrictions during pregnancy, hygiene practices, managing sleep and drowsiness, sexual intimacy and interactions, cultural beliefs and religious devotion, family participation and challenges monitoring fetal wellbeing. Conclusions To ensure quality pregnancy and fetal care, and facilitate provision of basic needs and parental empowerment, healthcare workers must consider women's cultural beliefs.

Cultural Beliefs and Practices in Postpartum Women in Iran: A Qualitative Study.

Cultural differences can be seen in the birth and postpartum period, where some traditional practices are used to protect the postpartum women and their newborns. The aim of this study was to investigate the cultural beliefs and practices of postpartum women. This was a qualitative study. Data were collected through semistructured in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 20 mothers in Qom hospitals, Iran from 2019 to 2020. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and finally analysed through conventional content analysis. Five themes of postpartum women's cultural beliefs and practices emerged from the data analysis including beliefs and practices related to public communications, women's postnatal care beliefs and practices, nutritional beliefs and practices, beliefs and practices pertaining to breastfeeding and infant care, as well as religious and traditional beliefs and practices. The most common cultural beliefs among women were beliefs related to public communications. Cultural and traditional postpartum beliefs and practices are common among postpartum women in Iran. To change postpartum behaviours, it is necessary to identify beliefs and practices first and then plan to correct wrong beliefs to achieve women's health in postpartum period.

Women's Perspectives on Cultural Sensitivity of Midwives During Intrapartum Care at a Maternity Ward in a National Referral Hospital in Zimbabwe.

Midwives attend intrapartum women of diverse ethnic backgrounds who each bring their cultural beliefs into the labor and delivery rooms. The International Confederation of Midwives has recommended providing culturally appropriate maternity care in its quest to increase skilled birth attendance and subsequently improve maternal and newborn health. This study aimed to examine midwives' cultural sensitivity during intrapartum care from women's perspectives, and how this relates to women's satisfaction with maternity care services. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed. Two focus group discussions were conducted with 16 women who had delivered in the labor ward of the selected national referral maternity unit. An interpretive phenomenological approach was used to analyze the data. This study revealed ineffective midwife-woman collaboration that excludes the incorporation of women's cultural beliefs in the design of maternity care plans. Emotional, physical, and informational support in the care provided to women during labor and childbirth was found to be incompetent. This suggests that midwives are not sensitive to cultural norms and do not provide woman-centered intrapartum care. Various factors implying midwives' lack of cultural sensitivity in their provision of intrapartum care were identified. Resultantly, women's expectations of labor are not met and this could negatively affect future maternity care-seeking behaviors. This study's findings provide policy makers, midwifery program managers and implementers with better insights for developing targeted interventions to improve cultural sensitivity for the delivery of respectful maternity care. Identifying factors that affect the implementation of culture-sensitive care by midwives could guide the adjustments required in midwifery education and practice.

Practices of herbal management of malaria among trading mothers in Shai Osudoku District, Accra.

Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity in the world. It is a significant health concern in most developing countries, including Ghana. Even though there are several orthodox medications used for decades in treating malaria effectively, a substantial number of individuals in developing countries are resorting to the use of herbs in the treatment of malaria. The study aim at exploring the practices of herbal management of malaria among trading mothers in Shai Osudoku District, Accra. A qualitative approach with an exploratory, descriptive design was adopted in analyzing the research problem. Purposive sampling technique was used to select twenty (20) participants to partake in a face-face interview, guided by a semi-structured interview guide. The data were transcribed verbatim and analysed by adopting content analysis. Two significant themes and seven subthemes were generated following the analysis of this study. The main themes were; preferences for herbal malaria treatment and the practices and effectiveness of herbal medicine used for malaria treatment. It was worth noting that the women's cultural beliefs did not influence their preference for herbal malaria treatment. The main challenge associated with the herbal malaria treatment was inappropriate dosage specification. This study discovered that several factors influenced participants' preferences for malaria treatment. Participants further listed some traditional ways of treating malaria which implies that there is herbal malaria practice. However, literature in this area is inadequate, and most herbs lack specifications for use. It is therefore recommended that future research focus on scientific herbal malaria treatment. Also, regulating bodies should ensure that quality herbal drugs are sold for consumption.

Somali Refugee Women's Cultural Beliefs and Practices Around Pregnancy and Childbirth.

The purpose of this study was to explore the cultural beliefs and practices of resettled Somali refugee women around pregnancy and childbirth. This study took place in the Midwestern region of the United States. Leininger's theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality served as the theoretical framework for the design of this qualitative descriptive study. Data were collected from 15 Somali refugee women through in-depth interviews. Three major themes emerged from this study. This article focuses on one of the themes: It's what women believe and do. This theme is reflective and indicative of the Somali refugee women cultural beliefs and practices during pregnancy, and during and after childbirth. Somali refugee women approached, managed, and conceptualized pregnancy and childbirth in their cultural context. Western health care providers should strive to understand cultural beliefs and conceptualizations that may influence the utilization of prenatal health care.

The Role of Education in Breast Cancer Beliefs and Screening Practices Among Korean Women - A quantitative study.

Cultural beliefs are influential factors that affect breast cancer screening practices among Korean women. The aim of this study was to examine the role of educational levels and compare the cultural beliefs associated with breast cancer screening practices among immigrant Korean women in Australia with those of their counterparts in Korea. A secondary analysis based on data from convenience samples of 245 and 249 Korean women living in Australia and Korea, respectively. Data were collected by the Korean version of Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire. Educational level has a significant association with Korean women's cultural beliefs about breast cancer and breast cancer screening practices regardless of country of residence. Nurses working in multicultural societies should take cultural beliefs and the role of education into account while designing strategies to promote breast cancer screening practices among immigrant Korean women.

Cultural Beliefs of Turkish Women for Breast Cancer and Screening

Breast cancer is an important health problem and early diagnosis is important in its treatment. Women's approach and cultural beliefs are effective in ensuring early diagnosis. This study examined psychometric properties of the Ferrans Cultural Beliefs Scale and assessed cultural beliefs on breast cancer and screening programs among Turkish women. The study was performed in a descriptive and cross-sectional design with 420 women using the Ferrans Cultural Beliefs Scale that is considered reliable and valid in Turkey. The mean total score of the Ferrans Cultural Beliefs Scale was 3.24 ± 3.16. The highest "yes" responses were for the statement "If breast cancer is treated correctly, it can be cured" (n = 387, 92.1%). This study, which is the first in Turkey, highlights the importance of measuring the effects of Turkish healthy women's cultural beliefs in breast cancer and screening for early diagnosis. Determining women's cultural beliefs will make known the attitudes and behaviors toward breast cancer, so that the nurse will provide sensitive and effective nursing care, develop nursing knowledge, and integrate this knowledge with clinical practice.

Nepalese women's cultural beliefs and practices regarding postpartum period

Introduction: This study is carried out to assess the postnatal traditional beliefs and practices among women of Bajhang district. Postpartum is an hour after the delivery of the placenta and the following 6 weeks. Methodology: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Method was carried out in Jayaprithvi municipality, Bajhang district. A self administrative questionnaire was the data collection tool, and all women (124 women) having children below 2 years of age and residing in those areas were selected using the census sampling method from randomly selected wards for the quantitative survey. For the qualitative part, 21 young women, who had delivered at least one live baby, were selected purposively. The focus group discussion (FGD) was used as the data collection tool. Results: The findings show that postnatal practices are being influenced by several cultural beliefs and practices transmitted from generation to generation. Most of the practices were harmful to health; however, some traditional practices were beneficial to the mother and baby. Discussion: It is essential for planning and implementing health education programs for these women to be aware of beneficial and harmless practices and try to use scientific knowledge as a mean of eradication of the harmful ones. In the same way. Conclusion: Socio cultural practices need to be promoted, and some certain traditional medicines that have been used in society since ancient times should be identified and uplifted to improve the maternal and neonatal survival rates in Nepal, For this, maternity care providers must partner with local women and provide locally based primary maternity care. It can be recommended that future research should emphasize the in-depth study of cultural beliefs and practices and associated spiritual belief.

Cultural qualities and antenatal care for black African women: A literature review

Background There have been assumptions made in maternal mortality reports that culture is a relevant quality in determining black African women's use of antenatal services in the UK, but these cultural qualities are not defined. It is therefore important to explore the association between cultural qualities and the use of antenatal care for these women. Aims To examine cultural qualities relevant in antenatal care for black African women. Methods A literature review was conducted on the CINAHL Plus, Medline, POPLINE, PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases with a timeframe from January 2000 to August 2017, to capture the first noted increase in mortality for black African mothers in the UK. Findings A subjective, complex mix of several factors intertwined with culture may impact on adequate use of antenatal care by black African women, resulting in an increased risk of maternal mortality and morbidity. Conclusion The need to consider black African women's cultural beliefs and practices during antenatal care provision has been highlighted in this literature review. It is noted that there are other factors that may affect black African women's access and engagement with antenatal care, and women themselves have highlighted a lack of cultural sensitivity and valuing of sociocultural norms when asked about their experiences of antenatal care.

Beliefs and practices of postpartum infant care: review of different cultures

Cultural values and beliefs play an important role in the medical attention-seeking behaviour of postpartum mothers during the postnatal period. Infant care, similar to other human behaviours, is influenced by cultural beliefs so exploration of cultural beliefs and practices of infant care is essential (Mennella et al, 2005). This article reviews the literature surrounding postnatal infant care with particular focus on the beliefs and practices among different cultures. The purpose is to highlight the variety of cultural beliefs and discuss how these can influence practices (excluding breastfeeding) during the postnatal period. It should help midwives understand the basis for some women's cultural beliefs and practices regarding postnatal infant care.

Exploring Chinese Women's Cultural Beliefs and Behaviours Regarding the Practice of “Doing the Month”

ABSTRACT It is well recognized that individual health behaviour is embedded in cultural patterns of exchange. This study sought to identify Chinese women's cultural beliefs and behaviors related “doing the month” and suggest how these are modified in the light of contemporary realties and experiences within the context of rapid social change. Ethnographic interview data was gathered by means of a telephone interviews (postnatally) with 100 eligible primiparous women who had attended hospital based antenatal programmes. The analysis highlighted a range of issues for these predominately middle class women which included special postpartum dietary beliefs and behaviours including the avoidance of hot and cold food, the restorative powers of food, wind and water prohibitions, food proscriptions and prohibitions during breast feeding, the cultural imperative of timing and contemporary autonomy of women versus conforming to female centered kinship obligations. It is concluded that health professionals working with Chinese women need further awareness of the cultural significance of adherence to postnatal practices and their fundamental links to the health status of postpartum women, and family relationships.

Focus Groups on Cardiovascular Health in Rural Women: Implications for Practice

Objective To determine rural women's perceptions about cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and behavior change for cardiovascular health. Design A trained moderator and nutritionist (observer) led the groups. The discussion guide was developed from the Health Belief Model and Social Cognitive Theory. The data were analyzed inductively looking at patterns and themes that emerged from the data and deductively looking at relationships from the theoretical models. Subjects Thirty-four white women participated in six groups: three younger (20-40 years; n = 18) and three older (40-55 years; n = 16) groups. Women with no more than 13 years of education were recruited by social service providers, Extension agents, and church groups. Results Rural women were unaware of their personal CVD risks. Common themes included the overriding influence of family preferences and cultural food patterns on women's food choices and the lack of support for adoption of a heart-healthy diet. Self-efficacy for dietary change spanned the continuum from no confidence (younger women) to complete empowerment (older women). Conclusions Efforts need to be directed toward providing education and skill building for CVD prevention based on a better understanding of women's cultural beliefs and life situations. All women believed that dietary choices were important for cardiovascular health; however, they lacked the skills for food selection and preparation. Family preference and support are key to the adoption and maintenance of a heart-healthy eating plan. For interventions, women preferred active learning (hands-on experiences) coupled with group classes for learning and support. Rural women lacked these resources or access to a nutritionist.