Cultural Differences Of Culture And Health Care In Afghanistan

Afghanistan is known for its’ geographical position in Central Asia by many countries throughout the world. It is a prime location for strategic trade and, consequently, also has been subjected to many invasions. Established around 1500 to 1200 B.C.E. by the Vedic Aryans, the borders of Afghanistan now extend beyond the Kubha River- to India Afghanistan is approximately 250,000 square miles which is roughly the size of Texas (DLIFLC, 2010). Rooted deep in historical tradition, the culture of Afghans is highly valued. Culture is defined as “the beliefs, customs, and arts, of a particular society, group, place, or time.”http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture . There are five characteristics of culture, learned, shared, symbols,

When the Soviets left in 1989 over 75 percent of healthcare professionals left a war torn country (DLIFLC, 2010). In Afghanistan only 8 percent of the people had the capability of receiving basic healthcare. Afghanistan has one of the shortest spans of life at only 43 years (DLIFLC, 2010). Since the United Nations involvements there has been almost 700 health facilities have been built and now over half the country has access to basic healthcare. 83 percent Children under the age of 1 are receiving the immunizations that they need. Tuberculosis and polio are still a major threat in Afghanistan over 7.5 million people received the polio vaccine in 2009 (DLIFLC, 2010). Afghanistan is one of four countries in the world where there is a polio epidemic due to the lack of healthcare and development of diseases from many

Geographically Afghanistan is a prime location for trade throughout the area. Although a large country approximately 250,000 square miles or about the size of Texas the majority of the population is urban. With its years of conflict for thousands of years it has never been able to fully recover. Conquerors from Alexander the Great to the Soviet Union has made Afghanistan what it is today. Stricken in poverty and famine it is the third most dangerous country in the world. http://www.atlasandboots.com/most-dangerous-countries-in-the-world-ranked/ When Soviet Union left Afghanistan in 1989 they planted thousands of mines throughout the country that caused countless deaths and permanent injuries. With the majority of their artifacts destroyed and sold to the black market after the Soviets left Afghanistan past culture is all but lost as a casualty of war. When the Soviets left the Taliban took over the country and banned a lot of cultural traditions such as music, dance and kite fighting. Islam is the nation’s primary religion with over 98% of the Country following. The Islamic religion is divided into two main denominations Sunni and Shi’a. The majority of Afghanistan is Sunni where the minority is Shi’a. The women in Afghanistan are not treated as equal among men. They have lower education levels, ability to receive medical treatment and are unable to voice their opinion. They are forced into marriages at illegal