TY - JOUR
T1 - An investigation of douching practices in the botánicas of the Bronx
AU - Anderson, Matthew R.
AU - Mckee, Diane
AU - Yukes, Jolene
AU - Alvarez, Adelyn
AU - Karasz, Alison
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by R03 HD 048679 from National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (PI MD McKee).
PY - 2008/1
Y1 - 2008/1
N2 - Douching is a common practice in women and has been associated with adverse health outcomes. In order to explore douching products and practices we conducted qualitative interviews in ten botánicas (stores that provide healing and spiritual services to immigrant communities) located in New York City. We interviewed 15 people, 14 of whom were botánica owners and employees and ten of whom were women. We found that douching was not easily separated from the more holistic concerns of botánica customers involving health, well-being and spirituality. These issues included abortion, infertility, menopause, the prevention and treatment of infections, sexuality, cleanliness, hygiene and relationship issues. The vagina was seen as a sensitive, even vulnerable part of the body, not clearly distinguished from other female organs. A variety of products were used in the vagina in the form of creams, douches, suppositories, baths and herbal steaming of the urogenital area. Alum, an astringent, was used for the purposes of vaginal tightening to enhance sexual pleasure for the partner, to make the vagina 'younger', or to hide evidence of infidelity. Botánicas are part of a complex healing system with conceptual models different from those of allopathic medicine. These models may not be unique to the botánicas.
AB - Douching is a common practice in women and has been associated with adverse health outcomes. In order to explore douching products and practices we conducted qualitative interviews in ten botánicas (stores that provide healing and spiritual services to immigrant communities) located in New York City. We interviewed 15 people, 14 of whom were botánica owners and employees and ten of whom were women. We found that douching was not easily separated from the more holistic concerns of botánica customers involving health, well-being and spirituality. These issues included abortion, infertility, menopause, the prevention and treatment of infections, sexuality, cleanliness, hygiene and relationship issues. The vagina was seen as a sensitive, even vulnerable part of the body, not clearly distinguished from other female organs. A variety of products were used in the vagina in the form of creams, douches, suppositories, baths and herbal steaming of the urogenital area. Alum, an astringent, was used for the purposes of vaginal tightening to enhance sexual pleasure for the partner, to make the vagina 'younger', or to hide evidence of infidelity. Botánicas are part of a complex healing system with conceptual models different from those of allopathic medicine. These models may not be unique to the botánicas.
KW - Botánicas
KW - Douching
KW - Dry sex
KW - Health beliefs
KW - Vagina
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U2 - 10.1080/13691050701516363
DO - 10.1080/13691050701516363
M3 - Article
C2 - 18038277
AN - SCOPUS:36549021681
SN - 1369-1058
VL - 10
SP - 1
EP - 11
JO - Culture, Health and Sexuality
JF - Culture, Health and Sexuality
IS - 1
ER -