Table 2 Cultural and gender difference across themes

Beliefs about health

Absence of illness (I, G)

Not attending healthcare services (I, G)

Good mental health (WB)

Not consciously thinking about their health (M)

Absence of serious health condition (M)

Monitoring food and planning meals (F)

Weight and body type (F)

Symptom interpretation

Normalisation of common symptoms and illness (I/G)

Normalisation of hereditary conditions (I/G)

Self-management and help-seeking

Preference for self-management of common symptoms (I/G)

Use of home remedies and traditional medicines (I/G)

Strong distinction between illness and health (M)

Help-seeking for symptoms as a common behavioural response (F)

Help-seeking for a range of symptoms (F)