Cultural and Religious Beliefs and Healthcare
Relationship between Cultural and Religious and Healthcare
I agree with this critique that Female Genital Mutilation (F.G.M) practice in some of the North African, Asian, and South African countries is based on the cultural beliefs they have. Some of the cultural beliefs support F.G.M as it is a belief that carries a lot of weight even though it is against Western healthcare standards. I also agree that F.G.M poses a medical risk to the females. The communities that perform Female Genital Mutilationbelief that it is a rite of passage. A female was considered ready for marriage once they were mutilated.
Additionally, the female is seen to be going against the tradition hence making her undergo the cut despite the medical risks. F.G.M is also carried out as it is culturally believed that it prevents unwanted pregnancies (InterAct & Human Rights Watch, 2017). Females who are not married are circumcised to help keep their hormones in check, therefore, avoiding unwanted pregnancies.
Follow-up question: What are the dangers of F.G.M to women’s health?
I accept that some religious beliefs also influence health outcomes. Muslims, for example, have beliefs against their bodies being seen by males who are not their immediate family. The religious belief that requires the Muslim ladies to be fully covered when going out may hinder them from accessing medical attention, especially where the provider the male (United Nations Development Programme(UNDP), 2017). The bodies of the females also get little vitamin D.
Follow-up question: What ways can religious beliefs be structured to reduce medical risks posed to women?
References
InterAct, & Human Rights Watch. (2017). I Want to Be Like Nature Made Me. Human Rights Watch.
United Nations Development Programme(UNDP). (2017). Human Development Report, 2016. United Nations.