University:
Liberty University
Course:
BIOM 500 | Introduction to Biomedical Sciences
Academic year:

2024
Views:

90

Pages:

6
Author:

Sheha A.

**Negative Impacts of Culture on Health and Illness** **Religious Restrictions on Food** * In some Indian families, the practice of men eating first and women last is still prevalent. This may lead to malnutrition among women. * Excessive consumption of spicy food, particularly chillies, is commonly prevalent in some parts of north Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. This may lead to gastrointestinal disorders. * Avoidance of healthy foods like papaya, milk, fish, meat, eggs, and leafy vegetables by pregnant women due to the wrong notion that they are heat-inducing and bad for the fetus. Negative Impacts of Culture on Health and Illness In some cultures, post-partum women are not given adequate food and water. This practice adversely affects women's health after delivery. It is observed that those with rice as their staple food suffer from niacin deficiency, while those with maize as their staple food suffer from pellagra deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency is generally observed in pure vegetarians. Consanguineous marriage: Consanguineous marriage is practiced in many communities. This is directly associated with stillbirth, low birth weight, abortion, and congenital malformations, etc. Preference for male child: There is a strong cultural belief that a family is not complete without the birth of a male child. This may adversely affect the women's health. Early marriage, gender bias, cultural importance attached to male offspring, and other such traditions have complications on health and may lead to female foeticide.