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Mexican American Response To Health: A Cultural Analysis

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Recommended: Cultural identity and values

In a culturally diverse country like the United States, healthcare professionals such as nurses will work with people of different cultural backgrounds who have different view of health and illness. Mcgoldrick, Giordano & Preto (2006) concluded that a sense of well-being in terms of physical and mental health within a societal context is strongly affected by cultural identity. Shared values, behaviors, beliefs and ethno-cultural attitudes of a community influence life experiences and decision we make (Yolanda & Griselda, 2006). With this in mind, it is essential for the nurses recognize the importance patients’ cultural values rooted in their health seeking behaviors.
Culture
Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines culture as a …show more content…

There is a lot of misinterpretation about health, illness and culture, and attempt to clarify these concept using culture is compared to “resting on unexamined foundation” (Padilla & Villalobos, 2006). Barrio & Kay (1977*) explained that physical health, environment and mental wellbeing are fundamental understanding of health among Mexican American. This culture is also characterized by set of values which include family, spirituality/religiosity, folk medicine and respect (Padilla & Villalobos, 2006). Religious beliefs are deeply rooted in Mexican American culture, and guides individual understanding of health and illness (Alvarado, 2008). Alvarado (2008) found that the majority of Mexican American identified themselves as a Christian, especially Roman Catholicism. Strong spirituality influence a belief that health and illness is determined by God. Having good health is viewed as being as good luck or being rewarded (Giger & Davidhizar, 2004*), while Illness is viewed as a punishment from God for bad behaviors (Alvarado, 2008). Although, spirituality is a coping mechanism used to maintain or reestablish emotional equilibrium during difficult times, many Mexican Americans may delay seeking or accepting medical interventions, especially when spiritual beliefs or rituals must be strictly observed (Nall & Spielberg, 1967). For this reason, it is crucial for nurses to seek clarification on how religion/spirituality may interfere with care and how this belief can positively or negatively impact health

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The DSM-5 and prior versions are strongly biased toward a Western view of what is acceptable behavior. Some criteria considered as mental illness could, in fact, be considered normal in another culture. (Varcarolis, 102016, p. 15) The Cultural Formulation Model is a very much perceived tool to use to give an inside and out investigation of the patient 's issues with regards to culture. The model has five classes: social personality of the individual, social clarification of the individual 's disease, social variables identified with psy­chosocial environment and levels of working, and social components of the relationship between the individual and the clinician.

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In order to receive medical opinion, individuals from Mexican origin must first agree to visiting a physician; and this is often just as problematic. B. Depression oversight, counseling and treatment can turn out to be expensive, it is not uncommon for individuals without insurance to avoid primary care. i. Payment options can discourage many amongst Hispanic culture in dealing with their depression, this is due to a large amount of them having no access to healthcare; either because of poverty level, residence, or immigration status. 1.

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But in the course of interview’s it gave a sense that although some home remedies and rituals might be used, they have seen from themselves and family members they usually go to the doctor or get over the counter medicine. But one of the facts I stated early about liver disease in regards to alcohol ties into a statistic, Francis joked that her family likes to drink for a cold or for any random disease, according to US National Library Medicine and National Institute of health in Hispanics “Chronic liver disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among Hispanics living in the United States” (ncni.nlm.nih.gov, 2014). This question someway tie’s into health concerns when I asked them the questions about health concerns in their population. The question of if diet effects their health was answered in the other question, both people I interviewed stressed that most of their concerns with their family and culture have to do with diet and exercise, which ties in the risk factors in Hispanics. One other things I looked up for this interview and health risk in Hispanics have to due with heart disease, In the American Hear Association they state that, “Heart disease is the No 1.

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