Religious, Cultural, and Social Beliefs of Iranian Rural Women about Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study
Background: The purpose of this study was to examine religious, cultural, and social beliefs of healthy women about breast cancer in rural settings in Iran. Methods: In the present study, 16 in-depth interviews with health care leaders, social and religious experts and 11 focus group discussions we...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Kaviani Breast Disease Institute
2014-05-01
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| Series: | Archives of Breast Cancer |
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| Online Access: | https://archbreastcancer.com/index.php/abc/article/view/13 |
| _version_ | 1811267602601738240 |
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| author | Iman Ghaderi Ahmad Kaviani Elham Fakhrejahani Neda Mehrdad Narjes Hazar Mojgan Karbakhsh |
| author_facet | Iman Ghaderi Ahmad Kaviani Elham Fakhrejahani Neda Mehrdad Narjes Hazar Mojgan Karbakhsh |
| author_sort | Iman Ghaderi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The purpose of this study was to examine religious, cultural, and social beliefs of healthy women about breast cancer in rural settings in Iran.
Methods: In the present study, 16 in-depth interviews with health care leaders, social and religious experts and 11 focus group discussions were conducted with 79 women in the rural areas near the capital city of Tehran, Iran. Grounded theory model was used to analyze the data.
Results: Some women believed that religious customs and rituals, such as praying, taking a vow, or going on a pilgrimage to a holy place, might have healing effects if performed in addition to seeking medical care medical care. Many believed that God intervenes in the entire course of any illness, from occurrence to cure. Although few had fatalistic views toward cancer, the majority believed that patients could try to change their destiny. With respect to the relationship between moral behavior and disease, 4 types of opinions were identified; good people suffer, evil people get punished, evil people do not suffer, and everything has a scientific explanation. Participants believed that self-perception, their husbands, deficiencies in the health care system, and financial concerns influence breast cancer outcome.
Conclusions: Our study showed that many participants were not aware of any available support in the healthcare system. They generally believed in the healing effect of prayers, only when it is sought in parallel with medical care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:05:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0c2b70785d98434a88da4901f5e879f5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2383-0433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:05:30Z |
| publishDate | 2014-05-01 |
| publisher | Kaviani Breast Disease Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Archives of Breast Cancer |
| spelling | doaj.art-0c2b70785d98434a88da4901f5e879f52022-12-22T03:16:43ZengKaviani Breast Disease InstituteArchives of Breast Cancer2383-04332014-05-011110.19187/abc.20141125-3113Religious, Cultural, and Social Beliefs of Iranian Rural Women about Breast Cancer: A Qualitative StudyIman Ghaderi0Ahmad Kaviani1Elham Fakhrejahani2Neda Mehrdad3Narjes Hazar4Mojgan Karbakhsh5Department of Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA AND Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Breast Cancer Research Center, Tehran, IranIranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Breast Cancer Research Center, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Surgery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranIranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Breast Cancer Research Center, Tehran, Iran AND Department of Breast Surgery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, JapanIranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Breast Cancer Research Center, Tehran, IranDepartment of Community and Preventive Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Community and Preventive Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranBackground: The purpose of this study was to examine religious, cultural, and social beliefs of healthy women about breast cancer in rural settings in Iran. Methods: In the present study, 16 in-depth interviews with health care leaders, social and religious experts and 11 focus group discussions were conducted with 79 women in the rural areas near the capital city of Tehran, Iran. Grounded theory model was used to analyze the data. Results: Some women believed that religious customs and rituals, such as praying, taking a vow, or going on a pilgrimage to a holy place, might have healing effects if performed in addition to seeking medical care medical care. Many believed that God intervenes in the entire course of any illness, from occurrence to cure. Although few had fatalistic views toward cancer, the majority believed that patients could try to change their destiny. With respect to the relationship between moral behavior and disease, 4 types of opinions were identified; good people suffer, evil people get punished, evil people do not suffer, and everything has a scientific explanation. Participants believed that self-perception, their husbands, deficiencies in the health care system, and financial concerns influence breast cancer outcome. Conclusions: Our study showed that many participants were not aware of any available support in the healthcare system. They generally believed in the healing effect of prayers, only when it is sought in parallel with medical care.https://archbreastcancer.com/index.php/abc/article/view/13Qualitative ResearchCommunity SurveysHealth Care SystemCultureReligion |
| spellingShingle | Iman Ghaderi Ahmad Kaviani Elham Fakhrejahani Neda Mehrdad Narjes Hazar Mojgan Karbakhsh Religious, Cultural, and Social Beliefs of Iranian Rural Women about Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study Archives of Breast Cancer Qualitative Research Community Surveys Health Care System Culture Religion |
| title | Religious, Cultural, and Social Beliefs of Iranian Rural Women about Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study |
| title_full | Religious, Cultural, and Social Beliefs of Iranian Rural Women about Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study |
| title_fullStr | Religious, Cultural, and Social Beliefs of Iranian Rural Women about Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Religious, Cultural, and Social Beliefs of Iranian Rural Women about Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study |
| title_short | Religious, Cultural, and Social Beliefs of Iranian Rural Women about Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study |
| title_sort | religious cultural and social beliefs of iranian rural women about breast cancer a qualitative study |
| topic | Qualitative Research Community Surveys Health Care System Culture Religion |
| url | https://archbreastcancer.com/index.php/abc/article/view/13 |
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