Culture And Health Promotion

It is well known that the United States is made up of several different cultures and the health care system delivers care to a very diverse population. However, depending on ones culture-receiving care may be a challenge at times. In this paper we are going to take a closer look at the culture of Hispanic Americans. The Hispanic population has grown to over 55 million residents with in the United States in 2015, with an estimated growth rate of 2.1% per year (Krogstad & Lopez, 2015). Making this minority group on of the fastest growing populations within the United States (DeNisco & Barker, 2016).

◦ Describe the dominant health practices of Hispanics and their relationship with the health care

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

I assume that in today’s world, there is a lot of information and scholarly research available that shows factors such as economic status, income, social situations, education, ethnicity, employment, availability of affordable housing and geographical (place where one was born and lives) conditions have a tremendous impact on the health and well-being of individuals, countries and communities (Amaro, 2014). Inequalities in health and well-being are created by social determinants and economic conditions for many in our community (Brannigan &Boss). The people that are affected the most are people with low income and minority groups here in the United States. This creates health disparities and unequal care (Brannigan &Boss). In many developing and under-developed countries, the situation is dire: lack of modern health services, illiteracy, poor economic conditions has created a cultural situation of desperation and unhealthy behaviors. Corruption by African governments is rampant. To improve the health and wellbeing of communities, we need to start thinking of how we can create a culture of health.

The United States have been growing the diverse population rapidly in different groups of people; however, increasing number of ethnic groups also struggle with new challenges such as health problems, economics, and educations. According the United States census report, there are approximately 54 million Hispanic lives in the United States, which makes about 17% population of total nation’s population. Hispanic is the largest growing ethnicity in the United States today; however, they are also exposed to the health disparities, economic and social status. This paper will discuss the Hispanic group culture, socioeconomic on their health, current health status, their health promotion, health disparities, and three levels of health prevention and effectiveness.

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 the qualitative study authored by Britigan et al, the independent variable is the ethnicity of the subject with a specific focus on a Latino sample population. The dependent variable in the study was the acculturation of interview subjects. Subordinate dependent variables included the health information sources used by Latinos in southwest

The health care system in the U.S. is used less than its full capacity by Hispanic women, especially after recent migration to the U.S. Among recent immigrants, protective factors such as traditions, health values and behaviors are shown to guard and strengthen health. Safeguards to health deteriorate sharply as they acculturate to U.S. society ((Sanchez-Birkhead, 2010).

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.

It is estimated that 20% of the U. S. population use herbal medicine. “The prevalence of herbal medicine use by some ethnic and cultural groups in the US may be even higher; one meta-analysis found that 4% to 40% (mean 30%) of Latinos living in the United States regularly used herbal medicine” (Kiefer, Tellez-Giron, & Bradbury, 2014, p. 64). The growing number of Latinos in the US and their reliance on herbal remedies is something that healthcare providers are going to have to address to be able to provide culturally competent care to this population.

Hispanics orientation to the present is demonstrated by the fact that getting diseases is a bigger concern than dying in their culture (Centers for Disease Control, n.d). Morbidity is of greatest concern to this culture and includes lifestyle and behaviors affecting health, environmental factors such as exposure to pesticides, unclean air, and polluted water, and the ongoing need for more effective use of health services (Centers for Disease Control, n.d). Hispanics have higher rates of several cancers related to infections (stomach, liver, and cervix) and are more likely have cancer detected at a later stage because of the common reluctance to see a doctor until the illness has severely progressed (Centers for Disease Control, n.d). Environmental

Cultural, traditional, and religious values have an influence on health patterns and behaviors exhibited by the community. Hispanic culture is dominant due to the close proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border. Fifty-two percent of households use a language other than English at home (U.S. Census Bureau, 2015). Therefore, an understanding of Hispanic culture is necessary for health care workers to effectively care for patients in this community.

Hispanics continue to be underserved and understudied with the lack of set guidelines to evaluate the efficacy of cultural developments and implemented interventions as proven with the scarcity of studies for review. Concerns arise with the potential a population of this magnitude has incurring economic burden due to non-adherence given their cultural beliefs, practices and socioeconomic status. Disciplines in healthcare delivery would benefit by incorporating cultural understanding in their practice as it is imperative in establishing trust, compliance and patient satisfaction (Martin, Williams, Haskard, & DiMatteo, 2005). This paper will incorporate an adaptive framework amenable to the Hispanic culture that can explore and describe contributing factors of patient satisfaction regarding their healthcare delivery. Application of a cultural theoretical framework that evokes reliant provider-patient relationship and will stimulate consideration of possible interventions for the future that ensues evidence-based quality outcomes.

Culture is an identification of one's worldview, which can include values, beliefs, morals, attitudes, customs, experiences and behaviors communicated within those individuals. There are characteristics that define religion/spirituality, role within family, definition of illness and the use of healing and treatment practices presentation in health behaviors (Talamantes, 2000). When it comes to the culture of Mexican immigration status can play an important role to one's healthcare. If the Hispanics from the Mexican culture live in the United States also known as Mexican Americans they have a high change of having healthcare, but if they still live in parts of Mexico they have a less to nothing chance of having

Today when people move across continents with the help of technology their culture and heritage moves along with them. Almost each and every continent is populated with people from different nations who have diverse traditions and cultures. Thus knowledge of health traditions and culture plays a vital role in nursing. People from different cultures have a unique view on health and illness. Culture-specific care is a vital skill to the modern nurse, as the United States continues to consist of many immigrants who have become assimilated into one culture. I interviewed three families of different cultures: - Indian (my culture), Hispanic and Chinese. Let us see the differences in health traditions between these cultures.