Question

Forum 1-1: The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down

Please use this forum space to address each of the following questions, based upon the assigned reading from the text:

1. What do you think of traditional Hmong birth practices? (pp. 3-5) and how are those practices similar to or different from the techniques employed when Lia was born? (p. 7
2. How do Hmong and American birth practices most differ, in your view?
3. How might what you have read in the opening pages of this text impact your life and/or professional practice

Answer 1

Today's picture of birth in United States is complex and simplistic terms are difficult to describe. Many women believe that there are chooses surrounding pregnancy and birth, the beliefs and practices of providers, insurers and hospital administrators of play an important role in both influencing those choose or dictating how they will be manifested. Then technological advances have given women more options with regard to the results of pregnancy and birth. Further more, these very same technological advances place limits on the chooses available to individual.

The Lia was 14th child of her mother Fouayang ,and father Nao Kao Lee Lia Lee in 19 July 1982 in merced , Calif.She had born in US two years before there 7 living children,a blanket,a mortar and pestle and little else.The parents were farmers in native,3 of their children died there when they were young.Lee had her first seizers in her 3rd month.Seizer continued, epilepsy was eventually diagnosed and prescribed for anti seizer medicine.

Lia was a girl who was the severely brain damaged daughter of Hmong refugees settled in California, was the topic for Ms. Fadiman's first book "The Spirit Catches you and you fall down"in 1997 .

Lia was suffering from epilepsy from infant , english translation of the diseases condition was the books name.

An old beliefs among Hmong's were like many diseases the cause of the diseases is due to the spiritual origin.And they also believe that when the soul and the body become separated the diseases might be cured.And they even have attempted for it.

In August 31 ,Lia died in Sacramento.The death cause was pneumonia.

The Hmong may be wary of a health care provider's intensions.Hmong Americans were the people not trusting in the medical science and they are unfamiliar with health care system. Native experiences individuals from Hmong community faced ,and general scepticism of system in UD because of the faithlessness of the Hmong after the Vietnam war .

Hmong American family do not typically take vitamins or seek routine health or dental care but most of the parents were willing to accept immunizations when they understood the advantage to health. The parents were using herbal remedies and advices from shamans may lead to increased skepticism about the importance and safety of immunization. Hmong families who were having low income couldn't access to immunization. Barriers in accessing in health care and immunization are low income, language barriers, transportation issues by Hmong children. During 2006 to 2010 8%of Hmong American families spoke only English at home,49%were bilingual responding that they spoke Hmong at home and also spoke English very well,and 42%spoke Hmong at home and did not have family members who spoke English well.

History would include questions about the families utilisation of advice from clan leaders,shamans and herbalists and use of herbs and other cultural remedies. A thorough family health history is important. Even though the family does not know the English name of a disease condition,describing symptoms on medicine taken for condition can be helpful.Asking about immunization especially with new immigrated families,is also important.The Hib pneumococcal, hepatitis A, Rubella , mumps and vericella vaccines may not have been given to new immigrants from south-east Asia.Hepetitis B, Tuberculosis and HIV screening should be done as these diseases are endemic in southeast Asia.