Cultural Competency - Multicultural Health Generalizations: Latino
Latino Maternal and Reproductive Health
- Maternal and Reproductive Health Beliefs
- Reproductive Health of Latinas in the U.S.
- Maternal and Child Health (last section - scroll down)
- Entre Parejas: An Exploration of Latino Perspectives Regarding Family Planning and Contraception.
Latinos and the Patient-Provider Relationship
- Normative cultural values contribute to the patient-provider relationship.
- These values are defined as the beliefs, ideas, and behaviors that a particular cultural group (or subculture) values and expects in interpersonal interactions.
- One value, "simpatía", which in Spanish means kindness, is a value placed on politeness and pleasantness.
- In clinical settings, "simpatía" includes the normative cultural idea that a health care provider will have an encouraging approach - noticeably polite and pleasant.
- The relatively neutral approach of some U.S. providers may be viewed as negative by some Latino patients.
- Lack of "simpatía" in a clinical setting could potentially decrease patient satisfaction with care, impact disclosure for a complete patient history, discourage adherence to treatment, and decrease making follow-up visits.
- Health care providers can ensure simpatía by emphasizing social courtesies, extending an encouraging approach, and being sensitive to other cultural values.
Source: Flores, Glenn, "Culture and the patient-physician relationship: Achieving cultural competency in health care." The Journal of Pediatrics, 136:14-23, (2000).
Santería: A Religion Practice in Cuba
Although Catholicism is the primary religion of Cuba, Santería, an African Voodoo type religion, is practiced by some Cubans of middle and upper-class backgrounds and some with less education. Based on beliefs of the Yoruba-African people, Santería incorporates Yoruba gods/orishas (the "Seven African Deities") and variations on Catholic rituals. When modern medicine and the Church fail to heal, some Cubans seek assistance from Santería Santeros (priests). Santeros intervene in both physical and mental illnesses but seldom operate in conflict with biomedical treatments. When treating mental illness, Santeros may ascribe the problem as a special attribute or strength of the person being treated. A few healing rituals conducted by Santeros include herbal formulations, prayer, and santiquo/blessing rituals (the supplication to a Yoruba god and the corresponding Catholic saint). Spells, magic, and animal sacrifices can also be common in this religion, and most ceremonies are conducted at home.
Sources: Cuban Refugees. (Online). Baylor University.
http://www3.baylor.edu/~Charles_Kemp/cuban_refugees.htm (2002, January 13).
Lipson, J. G., Dibble, S. L., Minarik, P. A., & Varela, L. (1996). Cubans. Culture and nursing care: A pocket guide. San Francisco: UCSF Nursing Press.
Communicating Serious or Terminal Illness to Cuban Patients
The preferred method of communicating serious or terminal illness to Cuban patients depends upon their degree of acculturation to mainstream U.S. Culture While highly acculturated Cubans may prefer to be informed of their terminal illness, less acculturated Cubans might follow more traditional cultural norms. According to these cultural norms, the spouse, eldest child or person directing care should first be informed of a serious or terminal illness, followed then by other immediate family members when appropriate. Keeping with these same cultural norms, allowing family members to inform the patient is also preferred. Family members may often choose not to disclose this information, believing that this knowledge would affect the patient's will to live and thus minimize fight for life. Furthermore, pregnant women, children, and ill family members are often excluded from such discussions and knowledge. Learning these preferred communication methods for patients and families can be helpful when communicating serious or terminal diagnoses.
Source: Varela, L. (1996). Cubans. Culture and Nursing Care: A pocket guide. San Francisco: University of California.
Honduran Healing Beliefs:
- Some Hondurans believe that foods and herbs are either "hot" or "cold." When someone is ill, "hot" or "cold" foods or herbs may be prescribed, depending on the illness. Some of the "hot" foods are coffee, oranges and beef. "Cold" foods include coconuts, bananas, salt and seafood.
- Some towns may have a traditional healer who prescribes herbal treatments.
- Some Hondurans use folk remedies such as tying a cloth filled with sliced raw tomatoes around the neck to treat mumps, placing mashed eggs on plantain leaves on the stomach to relieve an upset, and drinking herbal tea to rid of parasites.
- Massage and purging are other traditional healing techniques.
Source: Honduras: Looking at health care. Cultural Profiles Project. Retrieved July 18, 2005.
http://www.settlement.org/cp/English/honduras/health.html
