This subject will enable students to identify social, religious and cultural factors (values, beliefs and behaviors) that influence a woman’s ability to achieve optimal health and birth outcomes. The role of women in relation to men, family and community (village, church, school etc.) will be explored. Social, religious and cultural issues that impact on women’s health and their ability to seek support and achieve optimal health are discussed. The importance of the midwife’s role in respecting women’s cultural values and recognizing the impact of negative attitudes of health care providers is explored.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this subject the student should be able to:
• Describe the social determinants of health and their impact on women
within the different cultural and social groups across PNG
• Explore the wider social, religious and cultural influences on women in PNG.
• Recognize traditional and contemporary cultural and religious practices that impact on a woman’s health during pregnancy, child bearing and child rearing practices in the PNG context
• Identify the strengths and barriers that may impact on health care services and community structures that impact on a woman’s ability to access safe, high quality health services
• Recognize and remediate the impact of the individual healthcare provider’s attitudes as a major barrier for women accessing health care in PNG
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this subject the student should be able to:
• Describe the social determinants of health and their impact on women
within the different cultural and social groups across PNG
• Explore the wider social, religious and cultural influences on women in PNG.
• Recognize traditional and contemporary cultural and religious practices that impact on a woman’s health during pregnancy, child bearing and child rearing practices in the PNG context
• Identify the strengths and barriers that may impact on health care services and community structures that impact on a woman’s ability to access safe, high quality health services
• Recognize and remediate the impact of the individual healthcare provider’s attitudes as a major barrier for women accessing health care in PNG