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The University of Alabama

Publication Date

Fall 2018

Program Name

India: Public Health, Gender, and Community Action

Abstract

This study examines the ways in which cultural determinants affect the health-seeking, diagnosis and treatment process of women with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) as well as the underlying socio-cultural causes of the illness. Often coined as a “lifestyle disease”, PCOS is becoming a growing concern of physicians and women alike as its prevalence is on the rise with no signs of slowing down. Lifestyle, stigmas/taboos, PCOS’s effect on identity, and quality of life are all areas that are examined throughout this paper. A mixture of patients’ and doctors’ perspectives on PCOS were gathered throughout a three-week time period in Jaipur, India. Questions were tailored to extract information that could further the understanding of the sociocultural aspect of PCOS and its etiology. Furthermore, this study seeks to understand how India’s social and cultural climate affect the health-seeking, diagnosis, and treatment of women with PCOS and how these factors contribute to its increasing prevalence. The findings revealed that unhealthy lifestyle, diet, lack of exercise, stigmas, and insufficient awareness impact the health outcomes of women who suffer from PCOS.

Disciplines

Asian Studies | Medicine and Health | Women's Health

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