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A causal concept Of disease in an Iranian community

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Ali A. Alemi  and
Manouchehr Mohseni
Ali A. Alemi
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, University of Teheran, Iran
Manouchehr Mohseni
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, University of Teheran, Iran
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Summary

In 1975, as part of a socio-medical survey in a southern province of Iran, the influence of socio-cultural variables on behaviour in relation to illness and on beliefs about the causes of disease was examined. It was found that traditional beliefs such as ‘luck’ and religion were related to locality and age. For instance, the urban literate community puts less emphasis than the illiterate rural population on such beliefs. Older people and those living in rural areas still tend to believe in as ‘evil eye’ as a cause of disease, but a small percentage of old people in both localities do believe that flies can cause disease. The causal role of culture or specific elements of culture on health and disease requires further study.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , October 1978 , pp. 347 - 351
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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