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Relationships between health and culture in Polynesia - a review
Stuart Capstick1, Pauline Norris, Faafetai Sopoaga
1School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Abstract:
This review of journal articles and book chapters discusses the health beliefs characteristic of Polynesia and reveals several themes. These are: commonality in health conceptualisations across the cultures of the region which differ from the conceptualisations of biomedicine; the role of the relational self, traditional living and communalism in understanding health; the place of spirituality and religion in health and illness causation; and pluralism and pragmatism in health-seeking behaviour. Suggestions are made as to how awareness of key ideas might contribute to effective planning of health promotion and intervention activities.
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