Cultural Diversity in Saudi Arabia

Cultural Diversity, NEA , NA.2017
Wael M. Ammar, Nurse Educator
Cultural Diversity
Wael M. Ammar, RN, BSc, MSc
HSM, IHI
Nurse Educator

Out line :
1. Introduction
2. Culture definition
3. Cultural diversity
4. Overview about Saudi Arabia
5. Saudi Arabia cultures
6. Communication Patterns
7. Know Your Patient
8. Cultural Considerations for your Patient
9. Respecting Diversity

Life
Experienc
es
Introduction
• Healthcare workers must work with and provide care to a variety of people
• YOU must be aware of factors that cause each individual to be unique
Occupatio
n
Physical
characteristics
 That uniqueness is influenced by many things:
Family
Life
Socioeconomic
Status
Religiou
s
Beliefs
Geographic
al
Location
Education
One Major Influence Is
Cultural

 Turn to the person next to you and explain where your name came from
and what you name means.
 Be prepared to share what you’ve learned about each other’s name with
the audience.
Exercise
!!!

Jean Watson
(Cited by J. Anderson, RN, PhD, 1987)
Cultural Diversity

Key factors, including religion, race, level of education, economic status and environmental
factors can also shape the culture of a society
(Al-Shaheri, 2002)
The Saudi culture is Arabic with an Islamic influence spanning more than 1,400 years since
the first emergence of Islam. Saudi culture is a unique blend of Arabic tribal traditions and
customs and the Islamic faith, that shapes the mentality and behavior of the Saudi people.
Culture
Can be defined as the system of shared, , , ,
And that are transmitted from one generation to another
(Cortis, 2004; Havenaar, 1990)
BELIEFS BEHAVIORS VALUES CUSTOMS
SYMBOLS

Exercise
!!!1. Have ridden a horse?
2. Are left handed?
3. Can speak 3 or more languages?
4. Have flown/piloted an airplane?
5. Have been parachuting or bungee jumping?
6. Lived in a foreign country for more than 1 year?
7. Have swum in 3 or more different oceans?
8. Have a snake for a pet?
9. More than 5 children?
10. Have read more than 20 books in a year?
11. Have volunteered for a humanitarian effort?
12. Have/had a close relative who lived to be over 100 years
old?
13. Are vegetarians?
14. Have travelled to the North or South Pole?

Cultural
diversityIs a type of culture with the following specific characteristics: co-
existence of different groups, e.g. ethnic, religious, linguistic and
other groups each with their own values and belief systems,
traditions and different lifestyles People belonging to different
cultures may have different kinds of demands in terms of health.

Saudi Arabia is the Islamic center in the Middle East because of the holiest of destinations in the Muslim
world, Mecca and Al-Medina cities.
Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East located to the southwest of Asia and constitutes the
largest part of the Arabian Peninsula at an Area of 2.149.690 Km2. It is bordered to the north by Iraq and
Jordan; to the northern east by Kuwait; to the east by Qatar, United Arab of Emirates and Bahrain which is
linked with Saudi Arabia by King Fahad Bridge across the Arabian Gulf; to the south by Yemen; to the southeast
by Sultanate of Oman; and to the west by the Red Sea.
The Saudi population is approximately 27,136,977 – including 8,429,401 non-nationals, according to the 2010
census (Central Department of Statistics and Information, 2011). Islam is the religion of 100% of the
indigenous population.
located ?Where is Saudi
Arabia

Located in the continent of Asia, Philippines covers 298,170 square kilometers of land and 1,830
square kilometers of water, making it the 73rd largest nation in the world with a total area of 300,000
square kilometers.
The Philippines became an independent state in 1946, after gaining its sovereignty from Spain. The
population of The Philippines is 103,775,002 (2012) and the nation has a density of 348 people per
square kilometer.
The Philippines does not share land borders with any countries.
Where is Philippine
Located ?

Located in the continent of Asia, India covers 2,973,193 square kilometers of land and 314,070 square
kilometers of water, making it the 7th largest nation in the world with a total area of 3,287,263 square
kilometers.
India became an independent state in 1947, after gaining its sovereignty from The United Kingdom.
The population of India is 1,205,073,612 (2012) and the nation has a density of 405 people per square
kilometer.
India shares land borders with 6 countries: China, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan.
Where is India Located ?

Respect tradition
Arabic coffee with date

Saudi Men
Thobes-historical
Thobes-modern
Facial hair

Saudi Women
Abayas
“It represents our culture. We
can look glamorous and good
and still be covered up”
Take control of your abaya
Do not let the abaya take
control of you

Saudi Family
From a good mother comes
a good society
Role in family and society

The “Government”
GNO and PFP, NED, NS
Father Ministry of Exterior
Mother Ministry of Interior

Body language
Communication
Patterns
Voice tone
Hand shaking
Male vs. Female

Black seeds,,
Traditional
Treatments
Holy water ((zamzam))
Cauterization, Honey
oil
• Fire cupping.
• Health Beliefs
• perfume, evil
eye

God has willed & Blessed it
Something to take
Masha’a Allah Tabark Allah =
In the Name of Allâh, the Most Gracious, the Most MercifulBismellah Alrahman Alraheem =
If it is God's willInsha’Allah =

Did you know ?
Koran & sharia ’a law is the basis for the Saudi Constitution
Non-Muslims can’t eat or drink in the daylight of Ramadan (the fasting month) publicly
Non-Muslims women must cover their bodies with loose gowns
In Saudi Arabia, there is no dancing clubs, casinos, or movie theaters
In praying time, all stores, offices, companies and restaurants must be closed 15-20mts
All restaurants have two sections, one for families and one for single men

Cultural Considerations for your Patient (Muslim
Patients ) in the Hospital
 Whenever possible, the same sex nurse should care for patient
 Hospital attire should not reveal the patients body
 Avoid excessive touching of the patient
 Left hand is considered unclean
 Friday, the Holy day, patients may receive large numbers of visitors
 Avoid shaking hands with a male

Birth
 Fetus after 120 days is considered viable
 Prayers are recited into the newborn’s ears shortly after birth
 Circumcision is performed on male babies
 Large number of visitors are expected after birth

Blood, Organ Donation, Death, and Amputated
Limbs
 Muslims accept blood transfusions and transplants of various human organs
 It is acceptable for Muslims to donate blood and organs
Fate
Good and evil have been predestined by God
Death
 The good will live in heaven and the evil will be punished in hell
 Death is preordained, Islam does not approve treatments that speeds up death
 Cover whole body of deceased with sheet & handled as little as possible
 Body handled by nurse of same sex
 Body is covered, not washed by non-muslims
 Burial occurs within 24 hours of time of death

Key is to regard each person
as a unique individual
Every individual adopts beliefs and forms patterns of
behavior based on culture, ethnicity and religion
Must be aware of the needs of each
individual in order to provide care
Beliefs may change based on new
exposures and experiences
Respecting Diversity

Cultural Diversity in Saudi Arabia

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