Globally, individuals and groups have different notions of health promotion influenced by their social and cultural contexts. Effective primary health care and healthy public policy depend on a clear understanding of people’s perceptions of health and their health needs. Women in the Far Western Region (FWR) of Nepal live in one of the most remote and rural areas in that country, and their general health status is one of the worst in that country. In this study we explored the socio-cultural health concepts and needs of women in a district of Nepal’s FWR.

Qualitative research methods and a culture-centred approach guided the study, with 30 women from the district of Dadeldhura in the FWR participating in in-depth interviews. Data were analysed through qualitative content analysis.

The women’s concepts of health included ‘absence of disease’, ‘no tension’, ‘peace in the family’ and ‘being able to work’. The participants felt good health required good food, wealth, education and employment for their children, and a healthy community (free of drug or alcohol addiction). ‘Money is everything’ also emerged as a main theme, linking the concept of wealth to good health. To improve health, respondents recommended that the government provide financial support for education and employment and a focus on listening to and caring for the country’s rural poor.

Overall, participants’ perceived health as not just about themselves but their families and communities. Socially as well as culturally determined gender roles influenced the health concepts and needs of the women. This study’s findings can be used to guide public health leaders in priority-setting and in determining strategies for women’s health promotion in rural districts of Nepal and other similar cultures.