A Brief Cultural History of Dr. Guerrero Essay

Their health practices are expected to be humor when ill, it is one way family show love and concern because they are believed to be more emotional expressive. Hispanic are oriented society that may neglect preventive health care and may show up late for appointment or do not go at all. They believe in their religion catholic and argue that birth control methods other than rhythm are not allowed. Latin America view thinness as problem and well-rounded as the ideal; the advice that a patient lose weight is considered absurd and may not be followed because it would create a negative body image. They have their medical system which is coherent view to historical roots that combine Aztec, Spanish, spiritualistic, homeopathic, and scientific element. Their holistic

There are several hindrances that immigrant’s population encounter when they migrated to a new country. For sure, obtaining a good quality of health care is one of the most difficulties that the immigrants will be faced in the new country due to several reasons such as language barrier, cultural beliefs and lack of education. These elements could absolutely complicate the medical system. One of the immigrant population who began to migrate gradually to the United States in the 18th century is the Hmong. They arrived in the United States with their traditional customs. Hmong culture, in general, is entirely different from the way of life in the United States. In particularly, Hmong’s health care has completely different systems of health in the America. Their health care depends extremely on their traditional beliefs which are seeing illness as animism matter. On the other hand, the Western medical system is rationalism that means the medical system relies primarily on biomedical beliefs. As I result, the contrast between Hmong traditional beliefs and Western biomedical beliefs built a lack of understanding of both sides

These religious and spiritual influences play a major role in the Hispanics health, illness and daily life. In much a similar manner, the Native American Indian family adopts the cultural beliefs to associate with illness and health. They believe that a person’s state of exists when he or she exists in harmony with nature and sickness occurs when an imbalance between the natural or supernatural forces and the sick individual exists (Askim-Lovseth & Aldana, 2010). Traditional health believes and practices involving healing ceremonies and rituals restore balance when illness happens. “These can be conducted by their traditional medicine men or women, who are thought to have compelling powers, the ability to read minds, and know-how in concocting medicine, drugs and poisons.” For the white young family, the cultural belief of invincibility and youth are the driving force behind health prevention (Askim-Lovseth & Aldana, 2010). “Focus on the temporary is regularised, while thinking about health is assigned to an adult person where family accountabilities pertain.” Protecting against illness or disease does not feature into their daily lives. Disease or illness is something that is insubstantial and distant, and unimaginable to their young, resilient bodies and thus irrelevant (Edelman & Mandle, 2010).

Cultural competency is the capacity of people or services to include ethnic/cultural considerations into all aspects of their work related to health promotion, disease prevention and other and other healthcare interventions (Cultural competence is important for several reasons, (Purnell, 2008a).First, it can contribute in the development of culturally sensitive practices which can reduce barriers that effect treatment in healthcare settings. Second, it can promote understanding, which is detrimental in cultural competence assessment, to know whom, the individuals known as the primary care provider and whom they view as the primary healer, can attribute to the promotion of trust and increase the person’s interest in participating

The author of this essay is a university student. In this particular essay, the author explains Mexican culture from a medical point of view. The topics that are covered in this essay are all related to health and medicine. The introduction of Mexico is discussed in detail followed by how Mexican’s understand death and birth. The author also mentions about how this particular group defines health and sickness. It is also discussed about what this cultural group does to maintain wellness. The author also throws light upon the causes that the Mexican’s think are responsible for illness. Another thing that is described in this essay is about how the healers of this society heal the people belonging to this society. Lastly, the author has explained about how an occupational therapist should deliver care to an individual belonging to Mexican culture.

In the Hispanic culture health care is most commonly sought only after symptoms appear. In many cases only when those symptoms cause the individual’s incapacitation. Working through discomfort is considered the norm, dwelling on discomfort or mild pain is seen as weakness and seeking medical attention when not ill, such as preventive care, is almost unheard of.

They used Spanish folk medicine and Roman Catholic teachings. “Upon encountering western medicine, belief in spiritual causation and treatment of illness may persist in parallel with utilization of allopathic medicine so that prayer and other religious practices may retain high importance (Gillum & Griffith, 2010).” “Mexican and Korean Americans were less likely than the other two groups to believe that a patient should be told the truth about a diagnosis of metastatic cancer and terminal prognosis and were less likely to believe that the patient should make decisions about the use of life support (del Río, 2010).” The Hispanic concerned advance directive, life-prolonging therapy, and

It is essential when entering health care as a professional nurse to realize that health care workers, doctors, nurses, and other health care providers, form their own culture with their own beliefs and attitudes about the care that’s delivered and the patients whom they serve. Because there are significant barriers to health care for Hispanics, particularly those that are Mexican-American, in order to provide culturally competent care, the professional nurse must implement effective communication, convey respect to the patient, and take a thorough health history from each patient. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the background of the Mexican-American Hispanic patient, compare and contrast their culture to the culture of those that work in health care in the United States, and recommendations for the professional nurse using Purnell’s Cultural Theory for support and a reflection on Wellness Day for Health Promotion focusing on Hispanic heritage including Curanderismo.

In comparison of the Canadian and Hispanic cultural health traditions to those of the American author, mild variances exist. As the other families, the author uses good eating habits and exercise to maintain health. She practices yoga and prioritizes time spent ridding her body and mind of stress. The author protects her health by receiving immunizations such as the seasonal influenza vaccine. She avoids substances known to be toxic to the body like cigarette smoke. She encourages her family to practice good health habits and teaches them about maintaining, protecting, and restoring health. The author has Hispanic heritage but does not practice as many traditions as S. M. and her family. The author trusts in western healthcare similar in the ways that R. R. and his family do. Residing in American culture has possibly influenced all three families in which they have adopted some alternative traditions.

In America if someone is sick or not feeling well, they simply go to the doctors and have a prescription sent to their local pharmacy. However, in ancient Mexico when someone became ill, the Aztecs resulted to collecting natural resources and creating their own medicine to cure each other. Mexico has a rich tradition of herbal use going back many centuries (“Aztec Medicine”). Aztecs result to the use of nature due to the fact that Mexico has one of the most diverse selections of plants native to the country, as well as a variety of species both native to and introduced to Mexico from diverse parts of the globe (“Medicines”).

Working as a Case Manager (CM) for a Medicaid-based Health Insurance has brought me in contact with patients of varied cultures, languages and races. As a CM For Metro Plus Health Plan, my responsibility is to teach High Risk pregnant women about their diseases, encourage them to stay in care with their Primary Care Physician/Obstetricians, explain the importance of taking their medications as prescribed, and adhering to all their providers plan of care, with the goal of encouraging these patient’s to become responsible and active participants in their own care. I have been able to directly observe as a clinician, how cultural competence can positively impact not only the relationship between my patients and I, but also the level of care I am able to provide.

Miscommunication, medication errors, and lack of compliance commonly occur in the healthcare field. These are just a few of the errors that occur due to the patient being from a different culture than the physician or healthcare worker. Those three errors alone have a huge impact on our healthcare today. If we could have a better understanding of other cultures that are different from our own we could have a dramatic decrease in errors and a great increase in healthcare participation. Training must be completed and must be done in more than one way. The first step is to make sure that all physicians and health care workers get the same nationwide training that focuses on improving cultural competence. How this is completed must be done in more than one way (Horwitz, 2001).

Mexican culture is encompassed very closely as a family. When a family member is ill the whole family comes together to care for the individual. The mother of the family traditionally makes healthcare decisions. Health risks commonly associated within the Mexican heritage are alcohol consumption, smoking, disinclined to practice seat belts or helmets and common safe sex condom practices (Purnell, p.295. 2009). Genetic health conditions connected to the Mexican culture pertain to lactase deficiency, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and hypertension (Purnell, p.294. 2009). Four accompanied Mexican cultural illnesses involve, “Empacho (blocked intestines), Mal de ojo (evil eye), Caida de mollera (fallen fontanel), and Susto (magical

In Mexico the mother is the person who makes health care decisions for the entire family. Mexican families pass down home remedies for certain sicknesses. When a family member has a fever the caretaker will place a wet towel on their head, give teas, and set up a tepid bath. People with coughs are given oregano, cinnamon, eucalyptus, chamomile, honey, and lemon.

An application of the Marxist approach to health will first identify the role of medical science and it's association with all other parts that create a capitalist economy that are inherently geared to the accumulation of capital and that the healthcare system, and specifically doctors as agents of the state, promotes individual responsibility of illness (Navarro, 1979) that is evocative of the predominant ideology of the state and political system that is geared to a capitalist economy and individualistic world view. Secondly health as a