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Nursing Ethics
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The Effects of Islam and Traditional Practices on Women’s Health and Reproduction

Zuhal Bahar

Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey, zuhal.bahar{at}deu.edu.tr

Hale Okçay

Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

seyda Özbiçakçi

Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

Ayse Beser

Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

Besti üstün

Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

Meryem Öztürk

Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Islam as a religion and culture on Turkish women’s health. The study included 138 household members residing in the territory of three primary health care centers in Turkey: Güzelbahçe, Fahrettin Altay and Esentepe. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire prepared by a multidisciplinary team that included specialists from the departments of public health, psychiatric nursing and sociology. We found that the women’s health behavior changed from traditional to rational as education levels increased, and that religious and traditional attitudes and behaviors were predominant in the countryside, especially practices related to pregnancy, delivery, the postpartum period, induced abortion and family planning. One of the most important prerequisites for the improvement of women’s health is that nurses should know the religious practices and culture of the society for which they provide care, so that their efforts to protect and improve women’s health will be effective.

Key Words: culture • Islam • nursing • reproduction • traditional practices • women’s health

Nursing Ethics, Vol. 12, No. 6, 557-570 (2005)
DOI: 10.1191/0969733005ne826oa
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