Abstract
For the tens of thousands of Afghan immigrant women currently living in the USA, religious and cultural beliefs can act as a barrier to health care access. Islamic frameworks and men’s gatekeeping roles often control women’s decision-making power about their health care needs. Gatekeepers, however, can be reconceived as facilitators empowered to protect the well-being of the family, and positive messages within Islam can foster collaborative investment in women’s health. Drawing upon a pilot study utilizing community-based participatory research involving the largest Afghan community in the USA, this paper documents the need for culturally sensitive faith-based education to promote breast cancer screening among this growing population.
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This research was funded by the California Breast Cancer Research Program
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Shirazi, M., Shirazi, A. & Bloom, J. Developing a Culturally Competent Faith-Based Framework to Promote Breast Cancer Screening Among Afghan Immigrant Women. J Relig Health 54, 153–159 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9793-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9793-z