The ‘natural’ body, God and contraceptive use in the southeastern United States
2004; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 6; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/13691050310001611165
ISSN1464-5351
AutoresCynthia Woodsong, Michele G. Shedlin, Helen P. Koo,
Tópico(s)Global Maternal and Child Health
ResumoAbstract Data collected among African‐American and Caucasian women and men in the southeastern USA indicate that participants' perceptions of nature, God's will and the human body influence reproductive health and decision‐making. Attitudes about the health care system, pharmaceutical companies and government programmes for fertility regulation reinforce these views and may negatively affect willingness to use contraceptive methods consistently and correctly. Notes Cynthia Woodsong is a senior scientist in the Behavioural and Social Science Division of Family Health International, North Carolina, USA. Michele Shedlin is Associate Director of International and Immigrant Health Research at National Development and Research Institutes, New York, USA. Helen Koo is a senior research demographer for Health, Social and Economic Research, at Research Triangle Institute—International, North Carolina, USA. All correspondence should be addressed to: Cynthia Woodsong, Behavioural and Social Science Division, Family Health International, PO 13950, RTP, NC, 27709, USA; e‐mail: cwoodsong@fhi.org aThese data were collected from focus group participants only, and do not include data from the 'older women' participating in the study. aCase studies were based on individual interview data. 1Now more appropriately referred to as 'knowledge systems'. 2In some cases these interviews were not conducted the woman's mother, but rather with an older significant female member of her family, such as an aunt or mother‐in‐law. Résumé Des données recueillies auprès de femmes et d'hommes afro‐américains et caucasiens dans le Sud‐Est des USA indiquent que les perceptions de ces personnes sur la nature, la volonté de Dieu et le corps humain influent sur la santé de la reproduction et sur la prise de décision relative à la reproduction. Les attitudes vis à vis du système de soins, des compagnies pharmaceutiques et des programmes gouvernementaux de contrôle de la fertilité renforcent ces perceptions et peuvent affecter, de manière négative, la volonté d'utiliser des méthodes contraceptives, systématiquement et correctement. Resumen Los datos recogidos entre mujeres y hombres afroamericanos y caucásicos en el sureste de los Estados Unidos indican que las percepciones de los participantes en cuanto a la naturaleza, la voluntad de Dios y el cuerpo humano influyen en la salud reproductora y la toma de decisiones. Las actitudes hacia el sistema sanitario, las compañías farmacéuticas y los programas gubernamentales que regulan la fertilidad refuerzan estas opiniones y pueden afectar negativamente a la predisposición a usar métodos anticonceptivos correcta y regularmente. Additional informationNotes on contributorsHelen KooFootnote Cynthia Woodsong is a senior scientist in the Behavioural and Social Science Division of Family Health International, North Carolina, USA. Michele Shedlin is Associate Director of International and Immigrant Health Research at National Development and Research Institutes, New York, USA. Helen Koo is a senior research demographer for Health, Social and Economic Research, at Research Triangle Institute—International, North Carolina, USA. All correspondence should be addressed to: Cynthia Woodsong, Behavioural and Social Science Division, Family Health International, PO 13950, RTP, NC, 27709, USA; e‐mail: cwoodsong@fhi.org
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