Iran

IRAN

Dear fellow caregivers,
You welcome a patient from Iran.
Here is a list of useful information to know within the framework of his medical care.

General Information

Distance Paris ✈ Tehran : 3259 miles
81 million inhabitants / Average salary: $452 per month
Literacy rate: 85.5% / Life expectancy: 76 years
Spoken language : Persian.

The most common infectious diseases are: COVID-19, cholera, yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, malaria, rabies, tuberculosis, typhoid and Zika.

Communication

The Befarma or "Please" as an essential part of Taarof

“Taarof” is a courtesy greeting, implying different attitudes to adopt during social interactions, such as XXXXXXX.
● Out of politeness, Iranian people may tend to say they don’t need anything, so the caregiver is advised to insist.
Humility, politeness, and respect are very prevalent in Iranian communication.
● Traditionally, the father of the family is often referred to as a symbol of power. Decision making, even medical, is rightfully his.

Beliefs, Practices & Rituals

Iranians praying

● In Iran, 97% of the population is Muslim.
● Generally speaking, it is frowned upon to walk past a patient who is praying.
● During Ramadan, taking small amounts of blood is allowed and does not interrupt the fast.
● During Ramadan, the ailing person is allowed to eat to regain strength if the doctor deems it necessary.
● During Ramadan, therapeutic massage is allowed and does not break the fast, unlike comfort and wellness massage.
● It is best for a woman to be treated/massaged by a female caregiver, showing only the areas to be treated.
● Some people may believe that demons and the evil eye (the “Djinn”) bring them misfortunes such as diseases.
● In some regions/families, FGC is still a common practice. FGC can cause psychological as well as physical problems, such as lower abdominal and/or vaginal pain.

Eating habits

Traditional meal of an Iranian family

● To enhance the taste of each dish, Iranians use condiments such as garlic, onion, vegetables, herbs and nuts.
● Iranian gastronomy is based on foods such as rice, accompanied by meat, chicken, fish or lamb.
● The most common drink is tea.

Pregnancy and motherhood

40-day-old Iranian baby survived the Coronavirus

● Many Iranian women favor giving birth by cesarean section.
Abortion is a crime in Iran for any reason.
● A patient who has undergone female circumcision may be prone to complications during childbirth, such as a star-shaped tear in the perineum.

End-of-life care

Iranian man playing the flute with his wife

● Traditionally, after the death of the loved one, the family washes the body of the deceased and then wraps it in a white sheet to prepare it for burial.
Muslim Iranians prefer to bury the body quickly, if possible within 24 hours of death.
● In Iran, the sale of organs is legalized.
● As far as Muslim Iranians are concerned, living organ donations are religiously permitted.
● It can be complicated to discuss the subject of death with some Iranian families.

Examples

This section allows people to share experiences. Feel free to share yours with the community.

Sources

La Revue de Téhéran – Schémas culturels et modes de communication en Iran contemporain
Livre de Nazanine Galland – Les Représentations de la famille chez les femmes iraniennes en couple mixte/non-mixte

Courrier international – Iran. Enfanter dans la douleur (ou pas).

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