Journal of Religion and Health
Volume 56, Issue 4, 2017, Pages 1450-1459

“One Big Family”: Pastoral Care and Treatment Seeking in an Egyptian Coptic Church in England (Article)

Shenouda J.E.A.* , Cooper M.J.F.
  • a Division of Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Mayfield House, University of Brighton, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PH, United Kingdom
  • b Division of Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Mayfield House, University of Brighton, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PH, United Kingdom

Abstract

Little is known about Coptic migrants’ chronic disease health beliefs and treatment-seeking behaviours. Interviews to explore these issues and their relationship with church membership were conducted with 15 Coptic migrants in Southern England. Obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) were most frequently identified as health risks for Coptic migrants. CVD was ascribed to stress and considered amenable to spiritual healing. Lay referral to medical practitioners who were church members was common but may devalue perceptions of family medicine. The Coptic Church functions as a community that addresses members’ wider vulnerability. Central to this is the “parish nurse” role of the priest. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Migrants Obesity Coptic Candidacy healthcare access

Index Keywords

Pastoral Care Cardiovascular Diseases human middle aged statistics and numerical data obesity Aged chronic disease ethnology religion procedures Young Adult Humans cardiovascular disease male England female Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice adult migration patient attitude Patient Acceptance of Health Care Transients and Migrants Religion and Medicine attitude to health Egypt
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85016019521&doi=10.1007%2fs10943-017-0381-5&partnerID=40&md5=e877a5a09433cd3bf0ce9e5b2ca68bfb
DOI: 10.1007/s10943-017-0381-5
ISSN: 00224197
Original Language: English