The influence of cultural and social factors on healthy lifestyle of Arabic women

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Similar to other Western and Gulf countries, the incidence of cardiovascular disease and coronary artery diseases such as acute myocardial infarction is rising rapidly in Qatar. Diabetes mellitus, smoking, and hypertension are the most common risk factors causing acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and stroke. Additionally, obesity resulting from physical inactivity and unhealthy diet can lead to metabolic changes and raise the risk of heart diseases. Studies show that these health problems can be prevented and/or controlled by modifying lifestyle risk behaviours related to physical activity, diet, and smoking habits. The ultimate goal of this study was to find ways to effectively promote cardiovascular/coronary artery disease prevention and management activities among Qatari women by exploring factors affecting the ways in which Qatari women (citizen and resident Arabic women) participate in physical activities, healthy diet and smoking. An exploratory qualitative research approach using a semi-structured questionnaire consisting of open-ended questions was used in this study. Study participants included 50 Qatari women, 30 years of age and over, having a confirmed diagnosis of coronary vascular disease /coronary artery diseases. Results showed that socio-cultural factors play a key role in Qatari women's decisions to participate in healthy lifestyles. Counselling and guidance for patients by health care providers, especially physicians, regarding smoking cessation, weight loss, and exercise should be key interventions to modify lifestyle behaviors among cardiac patients.

Arab female and male perceptions of factors facilitating and inhibiting their physical activity: Findings from a qualitative study in the Middle East

“…Similar to the findings of previous studies conducted in the EMR [ 23 – 32 ], barriers to participants’ PA are: the presence of disease(s), feeling tired and pain, lack of willpower and motivation, lack of time and energy to exercise, low personal priority of health and competing demands, cultural norms and practices of public modesty (i.e., the need for women to wear traditional dress and to be accompanied by a male family member when going out), lack of social support, friends and companionship, low value of exercise such as insufficient health discourse in daily life, lack of affordable and accessible environments to exercise, lack of information about PA, and lack of supportive social milieu for PA especially for women. Congruent with the previous studies [ 25 , 26 , 31 , 33 ], participants of this study suggested that the motivation to “fight” disease(s)/illnesses, perceived benefits of PA, having willpower and motivations to be fit, have fun and good health, being religious, valuing individual responsibility for health, having supportive social systems and affordable and accessible exercise facilities were facilitators to be physically active. The findings of this study add to the existing evidence that PA is a contextualized experience within the specific society, culture, and history.…”

“…At an individual level, lack of time to exercise, lack of willpower, the presence of health conditions, fatigue/tiredness, ruining grooming efforts such as clothing and make-up for women, and lack of experience with exercise were reported as hindering physical activity [ 23 – 26 ]. At a sociocultural level, cultural and social norms such as women need to be accompanied by a male family member when going outdoors, public modesty, and the need to wear traditional dress, women’s roles and domestic responsibilities, social milieu that deemphasizes the importance of PA, lack of health discourse in society, and social belief and attitude towards women who try to be physically active, were reported as barriers [ 23 , 25 , 27 – 30 ]. At an organizational and political level, allocation of funding for sports, especially for women, i.e., limited access and funding for women to join exercise facilities such as sports clubs, jogging trails, swilling pools, lack of information on exercise, costs of gym memberships, and living in suburban or villages where there are less funding for sports programs were reported as barriers [ 25 , 28 , 31 , 32 ].…”

“…At an environmental level, hot desert climate and lack of indoor walking trails and affordable exercise venues were identified as barriers [ 23 , 25 , 28 ]. In one qualitative study by Ali et al [ 31 ], an example of intersecting barrier was illustrated, i.e., family discouraged a woman from buying a treadmill for home use (barrier at the social level) because there was not enough space for it in the home (barrier at the environmental level).…”

“…In one qualitative study by Ali et al [ 31 ], an example of intersecting barrier was illustrated, i.e., family discouraged a woman from buying a treadmill for home use (barrier at the social level) because there was not enough space for it in the home (barrier at the environmental level). On the other hand, facilitators for PA included the presence of health condition, feeling younger and healthier as a result of exercise, valuing individual responsibility, being religious, having supportive social systems, and having accessible and affordable recreational facilities nearby [ 25 , 26 , 31 , 33 ].…”

Fostering active living and healthy eating through understanding physical activity and dietary behaviours of Arabic-speaking adults: a cross-sectional study from the Middle East

“…There is strong evidence of the benefits of HD in primary prevention of major cardiovascular events and reducing the risk of diabetes among people with high cardiovascular risk. 42 43 In a recent qualitative study, Donnelly and colleagues 28 examined sociocultural factors that influenced the healthy lifestyles (ie, diet, PA, non-smoking) of 50 Arabic women with heart diseases living in Qatar. The participants reported that their diets tended to be high in salt, sugar and fats.…”