A Hidden Gift
UNICEF Nepal. (2016). Health promotion in action [Video]. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc_X3xrdgDU
Nepal fell witness to two significant earthquakes in 2015 that left thousands of people dead, injured or displaced. Multiple countries and organization came together to bring relief aid and assistance. United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Nepal Public Health Foundation (NPHF), and 11 Non Government Organizations (NGO) organized a project, called Interpersonal Communication and Social Mobilization (IPCS), that provided aid to approximately 800,000 Napali people, with 70% of them being women. Social mobilizers helped change behaviors by using a variety of teaching techniques. Mass media involved radio programs, flyers, and books, and health promotion was provided through peer to peer observations, hands on examples, and utilizing community confidence. During a time when people had lost everything they hold valuable and were skeptical about accepting advice; social mobilizers stayed the course and became a light in the midst of darkness. By changing the habits and behaviors of almost 800,000 people, this group of volunteers has provided a base for future generations as these women can see the impact of education and empowerment (UNICEF, 2016).
Culture and health are directly linked to a society’s growth in relation to the rest of the world. Both society and culture have behaviors, laws, customs, and traditions, that are shared by a group of people or subgroup, like a small rural community, and is influenced by health perceptions and practices. To evaluate Nepal’s culture and health, it is important to identify your own values and see the country from within their norms, morals and beliefs (Global Health, 2016, Chapter 6). There is significant cause for concern surrounding religion and a caste system, as seen in Nepal. Hinduism is the predominant religion and hold fundamental beliefs, dating back to 1500 bce.; it values gender inequality, child marriage, and a caste system instituted during the 16th century (Madan, 2016).
Hinduism is the majority religion and culture practiced in Nepal. It is known in the Eastern world as “Sanatana Dharma (everlasting religion/truth/rule), [and] outlines certain values (Dharma), which are considered important for the wellbeing of the individual and of the society as a whole” (Encyclopedia, 2006, p.479). Human life is seen as part of all living life and everything or everyone has a place and purpose. If you are born poor or rich, that is what defines your purpose and defines your caste. Dharma enlightens a person to what is good or bad and gives them an understanding of the universal law. Going against the caste is seen as going against nature and the law. Hinduism practice incorporates the belief of reincarnation achieved from living through good intentions. The caste system defines ideals, beliefs, traditions and behaviors. There are four castes and a fifth, called the “untouchables”. The caste system is a top down concept where the top Brahmans are elite and powerful. As you move down the system, your order of hierarchy and power deplete. There is little possibility to move up the caste latter and most of the 46% unemployed have destitute prospects (The world fact book, 2013-2014). The caste system and traditions are responsible for the oppression of women in poverty, arranged child marriages and Chaupati. When outsiders travel to this country it is important to understand the culture, traditions and belief of the people. In doing so, you will not be offensive or be confronted with resistance.
Gender inequality can be understood best from the Hindu scriptural text called Vedas, the earliest, and the Manusmrti. Women were identified in the Vedas text, but not equal to man, and Hindu women were differentiated from non-Hindu women. The later text includes a new restriction for women, to deny them education of any kind. The marriage for a man is seen as a religious rite of passage and the wife is to be subordinate in all areas. The male manages all household income and this does not negate the wife’s duties of managing the house and land work. Women were expected to be the perfect wife and have a sole responsibility to bear son’s (Thompson, 2005). When a family must make the decision to feed all of their children, boys will be fed first. Women have been oppressed, uneducated, given no opportunity for advancement and continually held in an underserved category. Today we see multitudes of women being forced to live as men see fit and the maternal mortality rates, infant mortality rates and malnutrition prove destitute conditions (The world fact book, 2013-2014).
A tradition seen in many places of Nepal is recognized when women are menstruating. People believe women are unclean during menstruation and they must stay in a designated place outside the home, "The Goth." The women can not come in the house under any circumstances. The Goth does not have the security or warmth of the house and his can lead to women being violated, beaten and susceptible to illness. During these times women need better hygiene and increased nourishment. Babies that are nursing must also endure the same harsh conditions which also put them in harms way. Elders and many others in society, still believe if the women come inside the house, the livestock will be injured or something else bad will happen. There are a few people going against this tradition and it has been outlawed since 2005, but the majority of people continue the practice, see video on Health and Education page (Shelly, 2013).
Chaupati
As women are seen in a subordinate and lower category, their lives are continually chosen for them. Child marriage came from cultural tradition. One of the main concepts is for the male to have ultimate power and rule. To do this, the male works off the tradition of marring a young, impressionable girl that can be molded into subordination (Thompson, 2005). The parents of the girl will arrange her marriage to eliminate one mouth to feed and reduce the amount of dowry paid to a husband. The older the girl, the more the parents will have to pay. The young girls must leave their family when they have their first period and typically start having children shortly there after. There is a stigma to open conversation about sex or contraception. Some Nepal cultures, like the Badi, continue the sale of girls and prostitution does not prefer the use of condoms. These practices lead to early pregnancies, low birth weights, maternal death, infant mortality and sexually transmitted disease, including HIV/AIDS (Wasti, Randall, Simkhada, & van Teijlingen, 2011).