Healthcare plays a critical role in determining the socio-economic wellbeing of a country. Environmental, individual, community, and personal health have been identified as a critical determinant of productivity in a society. Access to and quality of treatment as well as treatment outcomes are affected by various factors, among them, community, family, and personal attitudes to healthcare. Personal principles, cultural practices, religious beliefs, as well as health literacy levels influence attitudes (Helman, 2007).
Social, cultural, economic, religious, and health literacy levels significantly influence perceptions about healthcare in Egypt. Social stratifications along ethnicity and family ties in Egypt have made personal health to be more of a community affair. However, the level of participation of communities to personal healthcare is restricted to specific conditions. For example, there tends to be biasness in most communities in regard to family relatives who can access sex and reproductive health information (Helman, 2007). Secondly, cultural practices in Egypt advocate for alternative sources of medicine as opposed to strict adherence to formal treatment procedures. Religious practices and cultural beliefs have inhibited the quest for formal treatment with most mental illness cases being regarded as affairs between gods and man (Aeri, 2012). On the other hand, low levels of income coupled with limited availability of formal treatment facilities have significantly reduced access to mainstream healthcare facilities for many Egyptians.
Conclusion
Healthcare plays a critical part in promoting the socio-economic welfare of a nation. Healthcare in Egypt is largely influenced by such as family, personal, and community attitudes towards treatments. Social, cultural, education, religious, and personal principles continue to have a significant influence on the attitudes of Egyptians towards formal healthcare procedures.
References
Aeri, D. P. (2012). Stress Management through Spiritualism, Meditation and Yoga. PARIPEX, 3(3), 84-85. doi:10.15373/22501991/mar2014/28.
Helman, C. (2007). Culture, Health and Illness (5th Ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
