A review of literature, 2006 ( pdf - 438 KB) - ARCHI

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Macedonian Women’s Health Project Review of literature ___________________________________________________________________ Social influences Social factors related to women’s roles and responsibilities such as socio-economic status, social support and networks, adequate housing and exposure to violence and discrimination strongly influence their health and wellbeing (South East Health 2003). Attitudes towards people with health problems Many Macedonians do not readily seek assistance for their problems out of fear that the wider Macedonian community may find out about the problem. The community’s knowledge of a health problem in a family sometimes results in the family being shamed and in some cases ostracised (Macedonian Australian Welfare Association 1994). This generally seems to be the case when there is a disability in the family (Milosevski 2004) and often with mental illness (St George Division of Mental Health 2003). Fear that others will find out about a mental illness in the family arises out of the community’s own view of itself as being cruel and discriminatory (St George Division of Mental Health 2003). As a result problems tend to be kept and dealt with within the confines of the family (Macedonian Australian Welfare Association 1994) and benefits and services available to them will then tend not to be fully utilised (Milosevski 2004). Roles, responsibilities and expectations associated with being female Traditional Macedonian cultural values and expectations emphasize that the married Macedonian woman should essentially be the centre of domestic family life. Generally, even though the Macedonian woman works hard to contribute to the family income she is still expected to perform all of the household duties (Tkalcevic 1980). The unfair burden in the total workload of women has also been highlighted through analysis of time use surveys which indicate women’s increased time spent in the paid labour force has not led to a decrease in the time spent in unpaid work such as domestic labour and the role of the carer (NSW Health 2002). Managing multiple roles and responsibilities disproportionately affects women compared with men and is therefore an important determinant of the health of Women (South East Health 2003). It should also be acknowledged that it is common in Macedonian culture for grandmothers to assist their family with providing childcare for children. A Melbourne study which examined the motivations of Macedonian grandmothers in providing childcare and its impacts on their health and wellbeing discovered that these women provided free childcare for an average of 10 hours a day, even though fifty percent of them had chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, angina, arthritis and migraine (Drysdale and Yarman 2000). In this study, grandmothers also seemed to undertake much of the household responsibilities including cleaning, washing, cooking and taking children to school, immunisation, libraries, school events and sporting activities. Quite often they would - 19 -
Macedonian Women’s Health Project Review of literature ___________________________________________________________________ also prepare an evening meal for the whole family to share when parents arrive to pick the children up. Although some of the Macedonian grandmothers interviewed reported having less time for themselves, all of the grandmothers also reported a range of positive health gains such as increased physical fitness and improved mental and emotional well being. Socio-economic disadvantage The demographic profile of Macedonian women provided earlier in this review indicated that, compared with the general population, Macedonian women are more likely to have lower levels of education and work in occupations attracting much lower pay rates. Women who are newly arrived from Macedonia are particularly disadvantaged. Their lack of English skills may hinder them in obtaining employment, housing and medical care. Unfortunately many of these women with children may not be able to attend English classes if childcare is not provided. These factors may contribute to financial problems, especially when new arrivals must wait two years before they are eligible for income support (Macedonian Australian Welfare Association 2005). Like other women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, most Macedonian women also work in the occupations and industries which have the highest rates of occupational injury and diseases (Multicultural Health Unit WSAHS n.d.). There is strong and consistent evidence, that those in the community who experience social and/or economic disadvantage are more likely to have poor health than those with more advantages (Marmot 2001). - 20 -
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A review of literature, 2006 ( pdf - 438 KB) - ARCHI

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