Medical Paper

Submitted By mp516019
Words: 930
Pages: 4
Open Document
Cultural Views on Health
Kianna Hicks
ENGL 2309
April 05, 2011
University Of Houston
Heather Duprius

Cultures view health and disease in different ways. Based on the individual’s culture and the healthcare available to them determines how individuals treat an illness which varies greatly. From the harmony approach the Asian culture view health as balanced energy, The Chinese belief is that yin and yang brings balance to the body’s harmony that defines all living things. “Their belief in Chi that it leads the Asian culture to resist surgery and immunization, afraid it will interfere with their life energy and the rhythms which defines their health and wellbeing” (Uba, 1992). In addition they also believe that when yin and yang is absence illness and possibly death may take place. The Middle Eastern nation’s religion plays a major part concerning their culture viewpoint concerning health and disease as well. For example, Saudi Arabia has some of the best known facilities of healthcare providing all citizens with access to adequate healthcare services. But there is a cultural and religious stigma set upon individuals who are cared for in these healthcare facilities (Abu-Nasr, 2007). Some religions view illness as a form of punishment by God placed upon those who are not in agreement with God. Those who are healthy are considered to be in agreement with God and are naturally healthy and pure. A large factor affecting the healthcare in Middle Eastern nations is the cultural view on Muslim women being treated by male healthcare providers (Klein, 2008). These views stop women from getting the necessary treatment from healthcare providers even if the doctor is female with male employees. There have been reports of females being pulled away from mammogram machines by their husbands because they healthcare provider is a male (Abu-Nasr, 2007). Male healthcare providers are risking their lives to aid female patients while other male healthcare providers have been murdered for doing so (Klein, 2008).
The Asian culture belief system is that when illness and disease is present the body is imbalanced and out of harmony with life energy whereas the Middle Eastern Muslims, along with many other cultures view illness and disease as a form of punishment or justice (Salisbury & Byrd, 2006). The belief that individuals who become ill are in some way disobeying God is a factor which makes ill people be looked down upon. Not only is the individual affected by this belief but the family is as well. Ill individuals bring shame and embarrassment to the family (Abu-Nasr, 2006). Women may not be married if their mothers have breast cancer and ill family members may be rejected by the family, tortured, or killed because of the assumption that an act against God has been committed (Klein, 2007).
Individuals may fear shaming their families, being disliked, or being tortured due to their illness (Klein, 2007). So even though these Middle Eastern nations provide even the poorest of citizens with free access to healthcare, they still choose not to seek treatment till the problem is long overdue and treatment may no longer be an option. In the Middle Eastern nations of United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia many women have developed breast cancer yet few are receiving treatment for early detection. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in this area and over 70% of the women are not seeking treatment for cancer till it is too late (Abu-Nasr, 206). These views that individuals learn towards healthcare follow them even when they migrate to areas of the world such as the United States where these views are not associated with healthcare (Salisbury & Byrd, 2006). The migration of these cultural health beliefs leads the general population who is not knowledgeable on these views to perceive the individual as
Show More

Related Documents: Medical Paper

Medical Term Paper

Natasha Abdulaziz Medical Term Summer 2015 Medical Terminology Paper Outline 1. Introduction a. General introduction about the use of medical language b. The importance of understanding the language c. Then transition into talking about root, combining vowels, and suffix d. Can give a brief medical story with medical words 2. 2nd paragraph talk about the suffix a. You always start from the suffix which is at the end of the word (cite) b. Give example of a word such as –logy (study of) 3…

Words 584 - Pages 3

Medical Marijuana Research Paper

Medical Marijuana Medical marijuana is a hot button topic, and with good reason. There is lot of conflicting information. One doesn’t have to search very hard to find information supporting the medical use of marijuana. Marijuana has been proven to be beneficial treatment for many conditions such as chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, nausea from chemotherapy, and glaucoma among others. Yet, despite scientific evidence of marijuana’s therapeutic benefit, it remains on the DEA’s list of…

Words 1080 - Pages 5

Medical Office Research Paper

Effective Writing in the Medical Office. Written communication is as if you are having a conversation in person with someone. How the document is written whether it is through email, a letter, or even directions can play a part in how the individual reading said document may look at you or your scope of practice. In this paper I will discuss general guidelines for effective writing and the documents used in a medical office to better assist you as the medical assistant. The first step for effective…

Words 537 - Pages 3

Medical Marijuana Research Paper

Medical Marijuana Various assumptions are made based on the results from the use of the biased drug, Cannabis. Controversy has been dealt with this topic for quite some time now and all of the representatives in our government have different perspectives. Twenty four states have legalized this drug for the use of medicine and this is very crucial because almost more than half of the country has passed this law. This number is still rising and will continue to rise over time. What some representatives…

Words 886 - Pages 4

Medical Marijuana Research Paper

use marijuana for medical use or some use it just to smoke it and get high. Depending on the state you live in, you can possibly only use it for fun. Does this need to change? There are arguments between federal laws, state laws, and how to make medicinal marijuana legal in a state. Since many states are arguing that the federal law is unclear about marijuana, Michigan issued an act called the MMMA in 2008. MMMA stands for Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, which allows the medical use of marijuana…

Words 1313 - Pages 6

Medical Marijuana Research Paper

For over five thousand years, marijuana has been used for both medical and recreation use (Haerens 23). Marijuana also known as weed, Ganga, Mary Jane and other various nicknames, ultimately refer to to the dried leaves, flowers, and stems from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. This plant contains the psychoactive chemical, known as THC (delta-9-tetrehydiscannabinol) which triggers the blood vessels in the lungs and brain to expand causing more oxygen onto the rest of the system. In addition, THC’s…

Words 1580 - Pages 7

Medical Imaging Research Paper

Medical technologies that are based on the principles of atomic and molecular structures specifically medical imaging technologies like the X-Ray and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] have changed society for the better. The use of medical imaging has improved patient care, reduced health care costs, provided more efficient diagnosis, which increased the range of care, and offered a wider selection of procedures including less invasive image-related treatments like endoscopy, and catheterization this…

Words 991 - Pages 4

Hoarding Paper Medical Terminology

Cassie O’Neill Hoarding Disorder Brookdale Community College HESC 105 Medical Terminology Before introducing my topic of hoarding disorder, Id like to say that most people tend to collect various items that match their interest. However, hoarders are considered to the extremists. The avid collectors are mostly proud of their possessions and tend to demonstrate them. Yet, it should be remembered the line between collecting and hoarding is rather blurred, especially, at an early age. Hoarding…

Words 1265 - Pages 6

Medical Neglect Research Paper

Medical Medical neglect is considered neglect due to the fact that parents fail to provide the proper healthcare to children. Some parents have religious view that they try to use with raising their children such as not getting them vaccine or the proper medical treatment due to religion view. When a parent refuse medical treatment for child who is battling an acute illness and need medical attention fast or they can die. When parents ignore medical treatment for a child it can cause a child to…

Words 568 - Pages 3

Medical Marijuana Research Paper

Medical Marijuana The Western medicine recognized medical marijuana for its medical contribution to treat some illnesses. It was indicated to alleviate neuralgia, mental depression, uterine hemorrhage, cholera, rheumatism, convulsions and other conditions (Newton-Howes, G., & McBride, S., 2016). Nevertheless, the use of medical marijuana involves an ethical issue because it can also cause undesirable side effects to the patient especially if it is administered by inhalation like smoking, vaporization…

Words 306 - Pages 2