Cultural Health Beliefs and Practices Among Hispanic Parents

Parents’ beliefs about and approaches to their child’s health vary with culture and change within cultures over time. To provide an updated understanding of folk and traditional medicine (FTM) among Hispanic parents in the United States, we surveyed 200 caregivers identifying their child as Hispanic in a pediatric primary care clinic about their cultural health beliefs and practices. Overall, 84% of participants believed in ≥1 folk illness, with foreign-born participants more likely than US-born to endorse folk illness beliefs. Eighty-three percent had used cultural remedies for their children. Of those, although just 15% had discussed such practices with their child’s provider, 86% would feel comfortable doing so. No demographic factors predicted use of cultural remedies/healers or comfort talking to providers. Beliefs and practices related to FTM are prevalent among Hispanic parents and cannot be predicted using demographics; providers should routinely ask all families about FTM.

Health and Health Systems in the United States

The long history of Islam in the United States is not well understood. The first Muslims to come to this country were African slaves followed by Muslims from the Ottoman Empire. As time went by, other Muslims from different parts of the world followed suit. Today, Muslims form part of the sociocultural and religious diversity of US society. A unique feature of this community is its diversity, a function of different schools of thought as well as different migration trajectories in terms of ethnicity, gender, age, class, and countries of origin. Its diversity has generated a rich body of knowledge on health care that can enrich the American biomedical model. Yet, this knowledge has been subjugated and remains unrecognized owing to structural exclusion of Muslims exacerbated by 9/11. The aim of this article is to highlight health beliefs and practices of American Muslims with the view to recognizing their contribution to American society, leading to greater acceptance of this community. In sum, beyond addressing systemic exclusion, it is important to recognize that American Muslims have a long history and richness in understanding health in diverse sociocultural milieus in Islam that can and should be recognized in clinical care.

Effect of breast-self examination training on health beliefs and practices: student nurses educating relatives

Purpose: Breast self-examination (BSE) is a critical technique in early detection of breast diseases, especially cancer. This quasi-experimental study was performed to evaluate the effects of BSE training on health beliefs and practices among relatives of nursing students. Materials and methods: The study sample consisted of 133 relatives of nursing students. After training student nurses about BSE, they were requested to train their relatives regarding BSE. The data were collected before and 6 months after BSE training. Results: It was determined that 39.1% (n=52) of women performed BSE before the training and 87.2% (n=116) of them after the training and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.0001). Sensitivity perception (Z=-2.915, p=0.004), benefit perception (Z=-4.888, p=0.0001) and confidence perception (Z=-2.503, p=0.012) of women significantly increased and disability perception (Z=-8.576, p=0.0001) decreased significantly after the training. Conclusions: In conclusion, the BSE training given by nursing students to their relatives enhanced health beliefs and practices of the participants.

Diabetes Beliefs, Culturally Influenced Self-Management Practices, and Interventions Among Vietnamese Adults: A Systematic Review

Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) incidence is rising among Asian Americans, including Vietnamese, and is associated with increasing rates of urbanization, population aging, and overweight/obesity. We examined literature targeting diabetes self-management (DSM) beliefs, practices, and culturally informed interventions specific to Vietnamese adults. Methods Using PRISMA systematic review guidelines, we searched CINAHL, Ovid, and Medline databases for research articles published from 2001 to 2019 examining DSM beliefs, practices, and/or interventions among Vietnamese adults with T2DM and/or family members. Results Of the 971 articles identified, 12 articles representing 11 studies ( N = 2,628) met inclusion criteria. Cultural knowledge and beliefs influence Vietnamese health practices and nutrition-based interventions that infuse traditional dietary norms are common. Two studies incorporated digital technology and community health workers in interventions. Discussion Appreciating unique health beliefs and practices of Vietnamese adults is critical to designing and testing culturally congruent interventions. Further research involving community-centered approaches to enhance DSM is warranted.

‘Sembur’ culture: Local wisdom in care of pregnant mother with malaria in Kupang

Malaria is one of the main public health problems in the province of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). NTT currently ranks second in malaria cases in Indonesia after Papua. Pregnant women are a risk group, data show that pregnant women suffering from malaria complications in Kupang District is still very high due to the delay in treatment since many patients dominate the primary care of the traditional healer compared to health services. The traditional healers use herbs that are sprayed (sembur)to the patient. This action is an alternative treatment carried out by the local community because it is far from health facilities. Therefore, this study aims to determine the picture of semburculture in pregnant women suffering from malaria in Kupang Regency. This study uses qualitative techniques with a phenomenological approach. The informants were chosen by using purposive sampling and snowball approach. There were six informants, all of whom came from Kupang Regency. The data collected through depth interviews and field notes. Processing and analyzing data in the form of interview results are converted into verbatim transcripts and the results of field notes are analysed in the form of transcripts. The results of this study show three themes from all participants; (1) health beliefs and practices; (2) thoughts and feelings when conducting a sembur culture; (3) hope for a future life. This research is beneficial for maternal and child health as well as educational and service institutions.

A community approach to engaging Gypsy and Travellers’ in cancer services

While cancer outcomes in the UK have improved, inequalities remain with poorer and some ethnic minority populations experiencing lower survival rates. Research has addressed Gypsies’ and Travellers’ cancer-related beliefs, experiences and practices as part of wider studies but this is the first study in the UK to specifically focus on cancer. Findings suggest that health beliefs and practices are shaped by historical and contemporary social processes and the marginal position of Gypsies and Travellers in the UK society can result in a preference for seeking information and support from within the community. Starting from a health assets perspective, findings indicate that the structure of social relations in Gypsy and Traveller communities could be more widely utilized in health promotion programmes. Developing and extending techniques employed by Gypsy and Traveller Non-governmental Organisations such as community-based interventions and the use of lay health advisers, could be an effective method of health promotion by raising knowledge of cancer, engaging community members in preventative programmes and encouraging earlier access to services.