Gynecological Disorders in Asia: A Sociological Appraisal
Mohammad Taghi Sheykhi*
Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Alzahra University, Iran
Submission: January 18, 2021;Published: January 22, 2021
*Corresponding author: Mohammad Taghi Sheykhi, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Alzahra University, Iran
How to cite this article: Mohammad Taghi Sheykhi. Gynecological Disorders in Asia: A Sociological Appraisal. J Gynecol Women’s Health. 2021: 20(4): 556044.DOI: 10.19080/JGWH.2021.20.556044
Mini Review
Asia as the largest continent of the world with a population of 7.8 billion [1] of which 3.9 billion being women scattered in about fifty countries are highly involved with gynecological disorders which is worth appraising from sociological point of view. Sociology as a dominant discipline studies societies from different perspectives in different eras. Social change is the most important factor affecting people and societies with special reference to women’s health. Infections of women are a lot and ever increasing. As searched and found out, women all over the world are infected by 45 disorders or more. Such disorders are even increasing as compared with old time. For example, (HIV) AIDS has highly affected the health of women in the past four decades. Asia as a traditional continent with about fifty different countries is highly tradition-bound. Due to modernity trends increasing in such countries, cultures have changed, many values have died out and replaced by new values and norms, eventually leading to behaviors out of which new infections have emerged. Before the appearance of new social media, socio-cultural relations of girls/women were quite minor and closed. But, due to the social media development, relations of girls/women got open followed by the social change of females towards males. Such a situation gave girls/women new infections. Such new lifestyles increased the need for gynecology. Gynecologists were few in Asia in the past, but because of increase of population and overall development, they have gradually increased. Due to socio-cultural taboos, referrals to male gynecologists are problematic. Many women in Asian countries do not well know gynecologists. Many women put up with the disorders till very late in their lives. They sometimes use Greek medicine for their therapies. There are lots of unethical relationships between females and males in larger cities of the developing world, leading to gynecological disorders.
a)In Asia, all countries are not the same so far as gynecology practice is concerned. Japan and China are the first countries to touch the problem in their societies, and take steps toward its solution. In Japan, it was Kumagaya who first became a medical doctor in the 19th century to treat the patients with gynecological disorders [2]. From then, gynecology has ever been developing in Japan to serve the Japanese patients and people with such disorders as compared with other countries in Asia. In China also, it was Kha-Ti Lim [3], who first appeared as a gynecologist in early 20th century to practice gynecology. She was followed by lots of young gynecologists. This field of medical practice is quite known in greater China with about 700 million of female population. Many Asian countries are deprived of gynecology specialty. Such patients have to visit other general practitioners in case necessary, or have to see gynecologists in other countries for therapies. Similarly, many Asian countries used to train male gynecologists in the past few decades. Such male gynecologists are not compatible with the ethics in such countries, especially with the Muslim ones. However, male doctors are disappearing from gynecology in many Asian countries [4]. India too, with varying castes and cultures follow gynecology practice. India with 209 member societies and 25 thousand individual members all over the country, has the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India as the official publication which is published bimonthly and circulated to every individual member [5]. Generally speaking, poor countries do not have satisfactory access to gynecological examinations and treatment. However, those in need, inevitably refer to general practitioners for treatment..
References
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- Hoffman M(2018)The efforts of Japan’s first female doctor are worth remembering, The Japan Times, Japan.
- Lin Qiaozhi (2007) Guardian Angel of Mothers and Babies, Archived at the Way back Machine.
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