Before delving into the barriers to health care access for Muslims in America, it is critically vital to appreciate their religious background. A monotheistic religion, Islam is primarily founded on the principles of Abrahamic religion. It is ranked 2 nd largest religion and the fastest rising in the United States (Tackett et al. 2018). As a religion with a strong belief in their doctrines, there philosophical thinking at times fails to conform to the dispensation of healthcare.
Taboos play a vital role as an impediment to the Muslim's receipt of health care. They consider several medical procedures inappropriate including obstetric gynecology, body exposure, and the discussions that center around their sexual history. It is also a strong sentiment amongst the Muslim fraternity that sterility might lead to rejection and even divorce. A keen analysis has been put on the women's perceptions that have played a vital role as health barriers. Research has shown that many women regard illness as a natural response that occurs randomly. As such, everyone can get sick. Others believe that diseases can come as a result of negligence, spiritual trial, and even an evil eye (Vu et al. 2016).
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There is also an inclination towards gender preference amongst the Muslims. Male patients would essentially want treatment from their counterparts with a similar situation seen in female patients. There is also a general feeling of fatalism which means that a person is fundamentally powerless to do anything else other than what they have already done. Thoughts on predestination have also been proven to hinder Muslims from visiting hospitals even when sick. Many Muslims in the US states are immigrants and as such, can have problems with their language proficiency (Tackett et al. 2018). Health literacy can also be a significant issue for many. As a severely marginalized community, there is always the fear for stereotyping and discrimination thereby preferring the decision not to visit health facilities.
References
Tackett, S., Young, J. H., Putman, S., Wiener, C., Deruggiero, K., & Bayram, J. D. (2018, March). Barriers to healthcare among Muslim women: A narrative review of the literature. In Women's Studies International Forum . Pergamon.
Vu, M., Azmat, A., Radejko, T., & Padela, A. I. (2016). Predictors of delayed healthcare seeking among American Muslim women. Journal of Women's Health , 25 (6), 586-593.
