Blog # 5 - Contraception

In what ways could someone’s culture, beliefs and practices influence contraceptive decision making?  Provide thorough examples based on some of your readings and your own personal experiences. What were the beliefs about birth control/contraception within your own home and family?

I am from Pakistan and usage of contraception is low as compare to western and even other Muslim countries. Women in Pakistan have four children only 22% of the married women use modern method of family planning (http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51270). Pakistan has the sixth largest population, high birth rate and high infant mortality rate. It is vital that the women of Pakistan reduce the number of children they have so they can improve their health.  Many women in Pakistan lack access to contraception. Many of the rural area do not provide reproductive health care and one out of every three pregnancy is unplanned.  It used to be even worse since Pakistan is a male dominant society use of contraceptive was minimal and was not promoted among young married couples. Contraceptive practice was only taught to female but they didn’t have the decision making power due to societal structure.  Within past few decade government of Pakistan has initiated a national family program to reduce fertility rate. Government is also promoting limiting family size, use of contraceptives, and spousal communication on family planning. Government funded programs such as The Lady Health Worker Program has increased the access to contraceptive services. A network of community-based female workers providing family planning services to women in their homes. Also these programs are brining awareness to men so they can initiate in using contraceptives. Above all, education is the long-term solution. Educating men and women on contraceptive should be implemented.  Some of the program are running ad on prime time television to promote contraception. I am attaching a video link of one of the ad. Ad is also featuring a man to promote men to be more involved in family planning decision.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Tugu_04z_w

I am not sure but I think my parents did use contraceptive. The reason I am not sure is because in my family we never talked about it and the reason I think they used it because I have two brothers. So, compare to other families in Pakistan our family size is smaller. I wished that my mother talked to me about contraceptives but the culture she is from doesn’t make her comfortable. Now more and more families are talking about it since, Pakistani government is promoting contraception through advertisement more families are gaining knowledge.

Blog # 4 - Menarche

Describe a woman's experience of going through menarche (first menstrual cycle). Was it a positive experience that was celebrated by her or her family?    Or was it a negative experience (shame, embarrassment, fear, etc)? You may provide pseudo names to protect their identity.

The first period is seen as a milestone in almost every culture.  Some culture celebrates menarche while other doesn’t much care about it. Reshma was born and raised in small country part of South East Asia. When she was 12 year old she had her first period. In her culture menarche is a celebrated but just among women. Periods are not to be discussed with any men in the house. For Reshma there was no party, gifts or any rituals. Within her family she became a woman. For her it was not a negative experience, she felt grownup. Her mother gave her all the information she needed. Her mother also told her never to discuss about her period with her brothers, father or any other male figure. It is consider embarrassing for a girl to discuss about her periods with her brothers or father.  After she began having regular period cycle she felt a little closer to her mother, because she was able to discuss and ask question about her periods. After she became more comfortable she was able to discuss about her periods with her female friends. She came to know within her culture other families persuade menarche differently. One of her friend told her that when she had her first period she was ‘congratulated’ among her close female family members. Another friend told her that when she had her first period she was told not to touch any cooking utensils because she was thought to be ‘unclean’.

In my opinion girls should have more positive menarcheal and menstrual experience.  Most of the girls are not very knowledgeable about the menstruation. There should be proper menstrual education that should help girls in preparation, expectations and positive experience. In North America it was considered ‘cursed’ when girls had their first period, but that was very long time ago. Now, menarche is celebrated, some celebrate it by throwing a ‘Red Party’ while others have ‘Crossing Over’ ceremony.  There are several different which helps you celebrate “Girlhood to Womanhood”. I think these parties or ceremonies helps girl, it makes the time easier for the girl and for her parents.  

Visit the following website for more menarche party information:

http://celebratepuberty.org/menarche.html

One of many games played at menarche party.

Blog # 3 Self-Assessment

Read the self-assessment on pg 57.  How would you rate your "preventive practices?"  What are some ways in which you can improve your health?  What preventative practices do you already implement?

If I took the test on page 57 of the book one year ago, some of the answer would be “no”. I started to take better care of my self during my pregnancy after I found out I have gestational diabetes.  Having gestational diabetes during pregnancy can increase the risk of having diabetes later in life. Uncontrolled gestational diabetes can be harmful to babies, babies can be born very large, they can have low blood sugar after birth and breathing problems can occur (http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/gestational/).  After knowing the effect of gestational diabetes I started to take better care of myself.  First, I had to educate myself for what is a healthy diet and, what physical activity will be best for me. Then, I had to implement all my knowledge on keeping a low blood sugar level. I increased my intake of vegetables and fruits.  I switched to whole grain, nonfat milk, olive oil and low fat/no sugar/low calorie products. Now, I am taking good care of myself by proper nutrition, regular physical activity and avoiding everything that is harmful to my body. 

Many women with gestational diabetes develop diabetes within 5 - 10 years after delivery. My mother had gestational diabetes and now she is diabetic. She has to maintain a balance diet to maintain normal blood sugar level and, maintaining that balance require great deal of work. She has to take diabetic medications which help the body process sugar. She has to watch what she eats all the time. Her diet  has fit in a category of no sugar, no carb and no fat. She has to monitor her sugar level three times a day (by poking her fingers). I certainly don’t want all of this for myself so I am disciplining myself now to live a healthier lifestyle.

Preventive care can also be influence by different factors. Being a Muslim we are forbidden to use alcohol and drugs, it impairs the judgment of the person consuming it. So, being a true follower, never in my life I have used drugs or alcohol. Islam teaches it follower discipline and self-restraint. Muslims once a year, irrespective of the weather, fast during the holy month of Ramadan. Fasting teaches self-discipline and restraint, and is also good for one’s physical health. In order to fast one has to be healthy. World Health Organization (WHO) give definition of health; “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".  People who are sick are not allowed to fast. This year for the first time I truly realized the physical and mental benefits of fasting. The heat and thirst did made me realized that I am blessed with the a lot, and made me realize the suffering and pain people are going through in this world due to disease, hunger, flood and other disasters. So, some of the preventive care question listed in the book can be answered “yes” because of the teaching of Islam.

Few years ago I didn’t take care of my health. I was eating lots of junk food, barely ate fruits and vegetables and, exercised few times a month. Due to that habit I had to suffer the consequences and had to learn the hard way about healthier lifestyle. After some challenges and other factors influencing my life I am living a healthier life and I would rate my preventive care 10 out of 10.

Preventive care can be implemented but one has to discipline themselves. To begin a better healthier life we need to control our eating habits, do regular physical activity and avoid alcohol, drugs, tobacco and stress.  Unhealthy food can be very tempting but know this when you give in to your temptations you will be responsible for the outcome. Beginning a healthy lifestyle can be challenging and, requires small changes in taking positive action on your health, diet, relationship and exercise.

Blog # 2 - Health Care in America

About 47 million Americans have no health coverage. In order for anyone to receive health care we need insurance and that is the biggest problem. Insurance companies are making tons of money from people like us. The reason that the large numbers of American don’t have Health Care is because they cannot afford it. Health Care has high premiums, and if someone got sick they won’t be able to pay for care that they received. People cannot afford high cost of treatment, and some of them are facing serious illnesses because they don’t seek medical health.

Most families have health insurance through their employer. If someone loses their job they lose health coverage with it. Last year 2.6 million American lost their job. When you don’t have a job health care is impossible to afford. I know this because I have lived through it. I was in school while my husband was working and I was covered through his insurance. We got pregnant October 2009 and my husband lost his job March 2010, he was laid off. We had no insurance, and I had to see a doctor every month, which can be very costly. We thought about getting Cobra but, we knew we will be paying very high premiums. Having no other option we had to choose Cobra, we spend all of our saving paying premiums. Finally, we had our baby and everything worked out fine. When we thought we are done paying bills we were wrong. After the delivery we got bills from the hospital which our insurance didn’t cover. We got three to five bills every week, which we are still paying. I feel that Health Coverage today is a big FAIL because it’s not working for anyone.

Health Care passed by current administration “The Health Reform Plan” has promised to make health care more affordable, all American will be covered and many more things. So, why majority of American still have no insurance?

Blog #1 - Women's Health

Few days ago I saw news about Female Circumcision (FC). It was shocking to know that it was happening in United States, and has been for quite some time. News was about infant girl whose parent refused to have her circumcised, but they were forced to by their custom and tradition. Parents were so worried they were willing to speak openly, and because they came out and spoke about it, they received help and were not victimized by their customs.

I had a chance to talk to two friends (Yasmeen, and Leila both from Africa), Yasmeen told me the Female circumcision is very common in some part of Africa and parents who refuse to have their daughter circumcised people refuse to associate with them and no one will marry their daughter or into their family. She said she is so thankful to her parents because they choose not to have her circumcised. She was also shocked to find out that there are people in U.S. who still perform FC. Lelia joined our conversation and told us that not only its tradition but people also perform FC in the name of religion. Most people are vulnerable when it comes to religion and, they think they have to follow this practice to be true followers of their religion.

Sad part is most people are aware of its medical consequences but still are abide by their customs and religion. Some common health effects are urinary infection, reproductive infection and infertility. FC is practiced throughout the world, mostly in Asia and Africa. There are several different organization working against it such as WHO (World Health organization). They have been very successful and are still working against it. I hope that people who are practicing FC realize its medical complication and all the pain associated with it and stop this violence against women.