Evil Eye and Health: Exploring Cultural Beliefs and the Role of Family in Healthcare Provision in Qatar

Abstract

Cultural beliefs of the effect of the evil eye on health have been studied across many cultures, which is where a person receives the evil eye from another for various reasons and it causes them harm, such as getting ill. The evil eye is recognized and treated within family contexts. This includes the use of traditional healing methods, mainly provided by women in the family or by local religious and traditional healers. The goal of this paper is to examine the role of family in recognizing evil eye as a cause of illness, and the dynamic and collective process in which they analyze and understand the source of evil eye, how it manifests in the body and affects one's health, and how it is treated. This study is designed by using a mixed method approach, where data will be collected by using semi-structured/structured interviews. The data will be analysed by using thematic analysis. This paper highlights the Qatari family role in maintaining the traditional cultural beliefs regarding the effect of evil eye on health. This understanding is critical in providing culturally competent healthcare services where the patients' cultural beliefs are considered when providing healthcare.