II. Health Protection Health Culture In Muslim World Dr. Sherine Shawky

Learning Objectives Identify Muslims’ approach to protect health

Performance Objectives Fortify promotive actions Strengthen preventive measures Reinforce Supportive programs

Health Protection? How can we best protect health?

Health Threats Harm Weakness

Harm Any factor that exposes the individual to even the slightest evil is considered harm. Even a drop of any factor, that if taken in excess, may affect the brain should be avoided.

Harm Behavior Nutrition Life style Socio- economic Sexual behavior Pathological Pollution Disasters

Harm 1- Behavior Fear Hunger Miserly Squandering Conceit Flattery Scoff Jealousy Enviousness Anger

Harm 1- Behavior (cont.) Hatred Insult Violence Sabotage Discrimination Lying Theft Murder

Harm 2- Nutrition Eating dead bodies, blood or pork meat Excessive eating Eating non-wholesome food Intake of uncovered or unclean food or water

Harm 3- Life Style Lack of hygiene Reversal of sleeping pattern Sedentary life Alcohol Consumption Intake of narcotic substances

Harm 4- Socio-economic Lack of knowledge Unemployment Gambling

Harm 5- Sexual behavior Adultery Heterosexual anal intercourse Heterosexual intercourse during menstruation Homosexuality

Harm 6- Pathological Genetic damage Pathogens

Harm 7- pollution Air Water Auditory

Harm 8- Disasters Earthquakes Volcanoes Thunder Lightening Storms Fire

Weakness 1- Physiological Pregnant woman Fetus Newborn Youngster Elderly

Poor Orphan Traveler Weakness 2- Social

Sick Disabled Weakness 3- Pathological

Measures For Health Protection General –Religious –Individual –Development –Community Specific –Promotion –Prevention –Support –Environment

General Measures 1- Religious Shahadah (Declaration of Faith) Salat (Prayer) Zakat (Alms giving) Saum Ramadan (Fasting) Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)

General Measures (cont.) 2- Individual Proper behavior Observer eye Listening ear Feeling heart Critical thinking Problem solving

General Measures (cont.) 3- Development Continuous education Continuous research Continuous productivity

General Measures (cont.) 4- Community Peace Unity Integration Team work

Specific Measures 1- Health promotion Healthy behavior Healthy life style Healthy nutritional habits Drinking clean water General cleanliness and regular bathing

Specific Measures (cont.) 1- Health promotion (cont.) Cleaning gums, brushing teeth and rinsing mouth Body strengthening through exercise Wearing clean protective clothes

Specific Measures (cont.) 1- Health promotion (cont.) Marriage Having children Preservation of family life Acquiring comfortable clean house

Specific Measures (cont.) 1- Health promotion (cont.) Taking rest Taking enough sleep at night Having entertainment

Specific Measures (cont.) 2- Health Prevention Avoiding all types of harm Avoiding exposure to diseases

Specific Measures (cont.) 3- Health Support Pre-marriage, antenatal, natal & postnatal care –Pre-marriage counseling –Care for woman and fetus during pregnancy and labor

Specific Measures (cont.) 3- Health Support –Care for newborns –Breast feeding for two years Care for the youngsters Care for the poor

Care for the orphans Care for the travelers Treatment of the sick Rehabilitation of the disabled Specific Measures (cont.) 3- Health Support (cont.)

Specific Measures (cont.) 4- Environment Avoiding environmental pollution Protection of all living and non-living creation Protection against disasters

Conclusion Health is a complicated multi- factorial process with many intermingled determinants. The debate will never end and efforts will always continue as we only have very minute knowledge