TY - CHAP
T1 - Western, Asian, and middle eastern societies’ cultural attitudes and barriers impacting the management of sexual health care
AU - Rashidian, Mitra
AU - Minichiello, Victor
AU - Knutsen, Synnove
AU - Ghamsary, Mark
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - This chapter consolidates research on cultural beliefs and attitudes that serve as barriers to the management of sexual healthcare among Western, Asian, and Middle Eastern practicing physicians in the USA. The chapter first reviews evidence from the research literature to demonstrate how physicians from these populations have viewed and experienced various cultural challenges, particularly since discussion of sexuality is considered taboo within their cultures. Second, it presents data from two research studies, conducted on Iranian-American women and physicians, on issues related to sexuality and sexual healthcare management. Third, using case studies of two physicians and two women, it highlights some of the current issues of these participants, described by their narratives regarding culture, medical practice, and training. These factors, as well as life experiences, have shaped their perceptions and attitudes toward sexuality and sexual health. Lastly, we offer recommendations for physicians coming from, and working with, sub-populations within larger cultural systems. These recommendations proactively provide effective sexual healthcare services, including the use of sexual history taking, as part of their patient’s routine checkups.
AB - This chapter consolidates research on cultural beliefs and attitudes that serve as barriers to the management of sexual healthcare among Western, Asian, and Middle Eastern practicing physicians in the USA. The chapter first reviews evidence from the research literature to demonstrate how physicians from these populations have viewed and experienced various cultural challenges, particularly since discussion of sexuality is considered taboo within their cultures. Second, it presents data from two research studies, conducted on Iranian-American women and physicians, on issues related to sexuality and sexual healthcare management. Third, using case studies of two physicians and two women, it highlights some of the current issues of these participants, described by their narratives regarding culture, medical practice, and training. These factors, as well as life experiences, have shaped their perceptions and attitudes toward sexuality and sexual health. Lastly, we offer recommendations for physicians coming from, and working with, sub-populations within larger cultural systems. These recommendations proactively provide effective sexual healthcare services, including the use of sexual history taking, as part of their patient’s routine checkups.
KW - Attitudes
KW - Culture
KW - Management of sexual health care
KW - Sexual history taking
KW - Western-Asian physicians
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087645512&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85087645512&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-030-36222-5_10
DO - 10.1007/978-3-030-36222-5_10
M3 - Chapter
T3 - Trends in Andrology and Sexual Medicine
SP - 165
EP - 182
BT - Trends in Andrology and Sexual Medicine
PB - Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
ER -