Macedonian Women's Health Project
Influences on the health and wellbeing of women from a Macedonian background
by South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
Abstract
"Influences on the health and wellbeing of women from a Macedonian background" was a collaborative project established in 2004 by the Health Equity and Community Initiatives Program of the Women's Health Unit in response to identified health inequities for women of Macedonian backgrounds residing in the St George area. The project included three stages: a literature review, a consultation, and the provision of group programs. There is a report for each stage:
- A review of literature, 2006 (
pdf - 438 KB) - Consultation Report, 2008 ( pdf - 399 KB)
- Group Work Report, 2011 ( pdf - 1.6 MB)
As well as providing an effective example of working from a ground-up approach, the participants reported increased knowledge and adopted healthy lifestyle choices.
Furthermore, a community organisation provided opportunity for this project to continue in a sustainable environment.
“The women of the Macedonian community have never had a better opportunity to learn important things about their health. It is very important that women know where they can ask for help and more importantly, to know that there is somebody who they can trust and to whom they could turn for help at any time.”
- Participant
Literature Review
The review of literature collates the limited published information available on historical, cultural, social and behavioural factors that may influence the health of Macedonian women. Some of these factors are health enhancing whilst others may have a detrimental effect on their wellbeing. The review also raises several important questions relating to the complex interaction of influences on women's health.
Consultation Report
Method
The views and experiences of the community leaders and the issues revealed in the review of literature informed the decisions about the project's objectives, design and content of the consultation questions.
The consultations were conducted using qualitative methods including focus groups, questionnaires and face to face interviews in order to capture the depth of knowledge and experiences of Macedonian women and key stakeholders. Participants were also asked to complete a series of demographic questions before interviews and focus groups.
- Community consultation guide for facilitators ( pdf - 75 KB)
- Stakeholder interview guide for facilitators ( pdf - 75 KB)
- Community consultation – Background information (stakeholder) questionnaire ( pdf - 75 KB)
- Community consultation – Background information (women) questionnaire ( pdf - 58 KB)
- Consent form ( pdf - 46 KB)
“… I think in every Macedonian family to be honest, you know how they say: she (the woman) is the pillar of the house, if that pillar crumbles the whole house is going to collapse."
- Participant
Results
The Macedonian women who participated in these consultations said that they use a number of strategies to maintain their health including:
- socialising
- drawing on their faith in God
- using traditional methods of healing.
Factors identified as having a negative effect on the health of Macedonian women include:
- limited available time to participate in physical activity
- lack of vital health information on breast and cervical cancer screening
- excessive work
- hazardous working conditions
- responsibilities in the home
- little spare time
- stress
- history of war, oppression and political violence
- discrimination.
Group Work
Three age-specific group programs for delivery in a community setting were developed incorporating evidence from the literature review and community consultation. The group programs were:
- Group 1 - Older women health literacy group (age 55 to 65)
- Group 2 - Older plus women health literacy group (over age 55)
- Group 3 - Young women community leadership group (less than age 40)
- Group 4 - Community building activities for women from all three groups.
Each group program provided significant health outcomes for the participants. In the older women's health literacy group most of the participants adopted healthier lifestyle activities and intended to continue the health related activities after completion of the group program.
The young women's group continued to meet after completion of the project and all participants were keen to further develop their leadership skills and become community leaders.
Organisations supporting Macedonian women have increased their funding sources and new positions have been developed to increase the access of Macedonian carers to culturally sensitive/appropriate support and services.
Upon completion of the project, the project officer was provided the opportunity to continue the work of this project with Macedonian women through a local community organisation.
Resources
- Pre and post group questionnaires ( pdf - 45 KB)
- Women's community group questionnaire ( pdf - 44 KB)
- Questionnaire for community stakeholders ( pdf - 44 KB)
- Questionnaire for assessing social support ( pdf - 57 KB)
- Consent form ( pdf - 49 KB)
- Flyers ( pdf - 1 MB)
"I cannot tell you what was the most important and useful thing I learned. For me everything was important and useful because everything was new and interesting for me. I am only sorry that I did not have the opportunity to learn these things long time ago. I think all Macedonian women need to know this."
- Participant
Contact
Womens Health - Planning and Service Development, Womens Health
South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
1st Floor, McNevin Dickson Building, Avoca Street, Randwick NSW 2031
Tel: 02 9382 8349
