Blog 5 Contraceptive Decision Making

I believe a person's culture, beliefs and practices absolutely influence contraceptive decision making. In my own personal experience most of my education I received regarding conception was through my school and friends. My faith of Christianity teaches no premarital sex. However, once married it is not looked down upon for using birth control methods. I have several friends that are Catholic and their religion is not for the use of any methods of birth control. I would definitely say my faith influences me the most on my practices and tradition.

I definitely believe that education and knowledge can have a positive influence on beliefs and practices. For example, teaching communities the importance of immunization for children can decrease the morbidity and mortality rates for children.
On the contrast, education and knowledge on specific topics that interfere with a community's deep rooted spiritual belief may be difficult to influence. Davis-Floyd & Georges (as cited in Njororai, n.d.) described the conception beliefs of the Trobriand tribe, where the women becomes pregnant by deceased spirits. This reincarnated spirit is referred to as the 'spirit child.' The 'spirit child' mixes with the blood of the woman's menstrual cycle which produces conception in the woman's womb. This belief eliminates the paternal lineage.
To introduce modern day knowledge about conception to the Trobriand tribe would basically tell them everything they have believed about where they came from, their lineage and their practices regarding conception is untrue.
Cultural sensitivity is essential in reaching out to any community. Cultural diversity is what makes our world so rich. However, it is imperative to share our riches of knowledge to aid everyone in equal opportunity to better health while simultaneously respecting cultural diversity.

References:

Njororai, F., (n.d.) Women's Health. Cultural values about pregnancy and childbirth.
[Summary]. Health Studies. Retrieved from http://online.twu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_25759_1%26url%3D

Blog 4

I am not an advocate for sex education in schools if it involves teaching my child to use a condom or other birth control methods. I don't think every adolescent or teen has sex. I know this from a personal experience. I am an advocate for teaching about the reproduction organs and the processes. Also, I am for teaching about stats on teen pregnancy, STDs, and other infections relating to sex. Resources can be provided for additional information; however, I think it is up to the parents to choose which resources they want to educate their child/children. My family has a very strong Christian faith and that will be our foundation for teaching. My husband and I want to use our own way to teach our children on what we think is acceptable in addition to what may be acceptable to others in society. It is very important to me to teach my own children and not the school.
When I went through menarche it was a very weird but exciting situation. I had just turned 11 years old and my mother didn't believe me when I told her I started my cylce. She was at work when I called and told her. She said I was too young and I probably hurt myself during a physical activity. When she got home that evening she brought me pads and asked if I knew how to use them, which I replied yes and that was the end of our conversation. My girlfriends were very excited for me and it was a HUGE deal.
I have an idea of how I am going to have "The Talk" with my daughter. We love to have picnics or go fishing together so I plan to schedule a day where we can do either or both. It will be a relaxed atmosphere. I plan to start asking questions before the talk to keep abreast on what she knows and what she hears from peers. I will start with a refresher on basic facts. I will share some of my experiences as a teen. I will ask her opinion on sex. I plan on purchasing a few books from a local Christian store and provide her with videos that my husband and I approve for her to watch on the topic of sex and peer pressure. Finally, I will guide her to www.christianitytoday.com for references. It gives many examples of teens and different situations they have encountered on pressures regarding premarital sex.
I want my children to hear from my husband and I first about the sex talk and we want to choose what resource we will use in educating our children about sex.

Preventive Practices

On a scale 1 to 10 I would rate my preventive practices at a 5. I do exercise and try to eat healthy during the week. However, my exercise routine is not always consistent and I tend to eat more than my fair share of junk food on the weekend. I have a healthy marriage and a healthy 5 year old little girl. My family has a strong faith in Christianity and we are involved in our church on a weekly basis. The ways I can improve my health is to nix the junk food on the weekends. We eat pretty healthy during the week and come the weekends I am craving pizza, chips and dip, and something chocolate! I feel like I completely undo everything I did during the week.
The advertisement for all the junk food is everywhere! I think I would be less tempted and my daughter wouldn't ask for it so much if there wasn't an advertisement posted on every other billboard and every other t.v. commercial. Healthy lifestyles should be taught in the schools as well. During the week our children spend more time at school and daycare than in our home so it is important for healthy behavior to be taught while they are away from home. Some parents may need help on creative ideas to include healthy behaviors in the home. Why doesn't the media focus on advertising to the parents about healthy behaviors in the home? If there was more money to gain from healthy behaviors in the home than you would definitely see it everywhere on t.v. and billboards. I am excited to become a health educator in order to improve my lifestyle and influence others.

Blog #2 Economics of Women's health care in U.S.

I was reading several articles from the United Nations Press Release website. I am not amazed at how much of a low priority women's health is especially in underdevelped countries. I am amazed at how long it is taking us (people across the world) to address and correct the issue. Fortunately there are organizations like UNIFEM and UNFPA, that are driven to aid in correcting the health, poverty and violence problems against women and children.
I do believe every human being has a right to healthcare and it is not just a priviledge. Who in their right mind would think they are righteous enough to think they could delegate who should receive healthcare and who should not?
I think the present state of healthcare in the United States is unjust and crooked. In my opinion we have given too much power to the private insurance companies. When the private insurance companies can deny payment of a life saving surgery and the person does ultimately die due to not receiving the surgery there is something wrong with our process. Medicare and Medicaid are an absolute joke when it comes to reimbursement rates for services. If you could interview anyone that has a family member on Medicare and needs skilled services, nursing home or etc. they could verify the nightmare one would endure trying meet those needs.
I believe greed, money and politics are the reasons the healthcare problem has not been resolved.