Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...
Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...
Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...
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Project No. 243 (2007)Traditional Views on Causality <strong>and</strong> Treatment <strong>of</strong> Diseases <strong>and</strong> Injuries in AlAin, United Arab EmiratesStudent Authors: Fatima Saeed Al-Halhali, Khadija Ebrahim Al-Tenaiji, Thanaya AliAl-MullaFaculty Supervisors: Dr. P. Barss, Dr. M. Grivna, Pr<strong>of</strong>. N. NagelkerkeAbstract:Objectives: The overall aim <strong>of</strong> this study was to improve the health care system <strong>and</strong> tohelp improve the knowledge <strong>of</strong> the UAE population about causality <strong>and</strong> treatment <strong>of</strong>different diseases. This study was designed to assess the beliefs about the causality<strong>and</strong> treatment <strong>of</strong> common diseases <strong>and</strong> injuries <strong>and</strong> see the differences in the beliefsbetween different age groups, nationalities, income <strong>and</strong> level <strong>of</strong> education.Methods: The study was conducted in Al-Ain city, United Arab Emirates between 18November <strong>and</strong> 13 December 2007. The study group was women who are 14 years old<strong>and</strong> above in Al Ain city, including all nationalities attending the women association<strong>and</strong> religious centers (where people go to learn Quraan, Hadith <strong>and</strong> attend differentlectures). The sample size was 242 participants.Results: The study showed that there is strong belief that traditional causality like(destiny, evil eye, jin <strong>and</strong> sorcery) may cause some <strong>of</strong> the diseases <strong>and</strong> injuries.Injuries such as drowning, child injuries, falls <strong>and</strong> car crash can be due to destiny as acause (88%, 81%, 81% <strong>and</strong> 80% respectively). There is a belief that evil eye cancause seizure (28%) <strong>and</strong> mental illness (22%). In addition, older people in contrast toyounger people believe in traditional causality. They believe in evil eye more with pvalue <strong>of</strong> (0.001, 0.008, 0.015, <strong>and</strong> 0.032) for diabetes, cancer, hypertension <strong>and</strong> childinjures respectively. Non educated people believe in evil eye more that educatedpeople as a cause <strong>of</strong> different diseases. 61 % <strong>of</strong> old people believe that diet play a rolein different disease (like heart diseases) while it is 18% for younger people (p=0.000).The results showed that there is a strong belief that diseases like diabetes,hypertension <strong>and</strong> cancer can be treated by herbs (53%, 31% <strong>and</strong> 26 respectively).They can also be treated by cupping (14%, 20%, <strong>and</strong> 6% respectively). With old agethere is more belief in cupping as a treatment for cancer <strong>and</strong> diabetes among UAEnationals. (p= 0.049 for cancer <strong>and</strong> p=0.003 for diabetes).Conclusion: Older people are more inclined to believe that evil eye can cause chronicillness; that diet, lack <strong>of</strong> exercise <strong>and</strong> smoking play a role in the individual health; <strong>and</strong>that the doctor is a good source <strong>of</strong> treatment. With increasing the income: thetendency is more to go the doctor than traditional healers.Recommendation: Educational programs to increase the awareness about the causality<strong>of</strong> some diseases especially for the diseases that are not well understood by thepeople like seizure <strong>and</strong> HIV are highly recommended. In addition, physicians couldbenefit from educational programs that will give them an idea about what theirpatients believe in as the causes <strong>of</strong> some diseases.while providing care for patients.
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