|
Modesty and healthcare for women: understanding cultural sensitivities
Alvin and Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute, Northwest Hospital Center, Randallstown, MD
Across diverse cultures and ethnicities, many women have named modesty as the reason they do not obtain cervical cancer screening or mammography. This article is based on original research, exploring and defining modesty among Jewish women in Baltimore, MD, and is part of a series of studies related to modesty and healthcare utilization. Information from the literature on Muslim, Hispanic, and Asian forms of modesty are included for comparison. Understanding phenomena such as modesty and the role it plays in women’s health will significantly impact both intervention design and treatment practices. Culture and health, partnered in care, could have an impact on utilization of healthcare services and the relaying of health messages.
| Commun Oncol 2006;3:443–446 | full text |  109 kb |