“Treat Me Like a Person”: Unveiling Healthcare Narratives of Muslim Women who Wear Islamic Head Coverings Through a Poststructural Narrative Study

Abstract

Background In Canada, the healthcare experiences and needs of Muslim women who wear Islamic head coverings are conflated with the larger Muslim community who do not wear Islamic head coverings. Understanding their specific and unique preferences and challenges is essential for tailoring care and improving healthcare encounters. Purpose The study purpose is to explore the healthcare encounters of Muslim women wearing Islamic head coverings in Canada, focusing on how discourse influences their narratives. Methods A postructuralist narrative methodology was used to understand how power, knowledge, language, and discourse impacted their experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight Muslim women. Narrative analysis was used to dissect stories and the way these stories were told. Results Five themes were identified, including: The Fingerprint: Highlights the importance of recognizing individual identities to provide personalized care. The Membrane: Examines how societal biases and assumptions permeate healthcare professionals and impacts care. The Heartbeat: Reveals the immediate emotional and physical responses that reflect systemic challenges within healthcare encounters. Unseen: Emphasizes the lack of acknowledgement experienced by Muslim women related to their healthcare preferences and/or needs. Heard: Encompasses instances where Muslim women feel recognized by their healthcare provider; contrasts Theme #4. Conclusion This research emphasizes the diverse experiences of Muslim woman who wear an Islamic head covering and the need for healthcare professionals to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach and instead, provide care that respects the unique preferences amongst this diverse group.