Question

What are the traditional norms for Asian and Latino cultures when it comes to healthcare?

Answer 1

Ans) Beliefs in folk medicine and alternative healing: In many Latino cultures, some people may go to other healers for spiritual help and healing. These healing practices include:
Curanderismo (Mexico and other parts of Latin America)– Includes prayer, rituals and herbal remedies
Santeria (Brazil and Cuba) – An Afro-Caribbean religion that encourages connection between humans and mortal spirits
Espiritismo (Puerto Rico) – Spiritual belief that good and evil spirits can affect health and luck.

Mental Health

Mental health disorders may be stigmatized:

- Studies have shown that the rates of mental health disorders are generally lower in Latinos. However, in Latino cultures, mental health problems often carry a stigma. There may be resistance to using mental health services, or taking medication that is prescribed for psychiatric conditions. Emotional symptoms (such as anxiety) may be more comfortably expressed by the patient as a physical symptom, such as pain.

End of Life issues:

- Role of religion: In most Latino cultures, religion is important, and many Latinos identify as Roman Catholics. Therefore, it is likely that there will be a close connection with the priest and the church during the dying and funeral process.

- Indirect communication about end-of-life and prognosis may be preferred. In Latino cultures, it is common for the family to prefer to “protect” the patient from a fatal diagnosis. The families themselves may not wish to discuss the possibility of death openly.