Health is a component of any society's demographic makeup. The heritage adopted by many communities and ethnic groups shapes their health context in terms of health maintenance, preservation, and restoration. The United States of America is made up of several social groupings with various ethnic and cultural backgrounds. In order to identify, screen, and execute health initiatives, responsible authorities must first grasp the basic health traditions based on the cultural heritage of the target social group. The successful implementation of health initiatives centered on health maintenance, protection, promotion and restoration, is hugely based on a deeper heritage assessment of cultures to implement tailor-made health programs. Amongst the many cultures in the United States of America, the Haitians, the Hispanics and the Indian-Americans represent the deep culture and heritage of the American people. To understand the health needs and relevant programs of the given cultures; Haitians, Hispanics, and the Indian-Americans, heritage assessment of the given cultures is a pre-requisite.
The family is the primary social unit. To understand the cultures of the given ethnic groups, the family is a fundamental target that can be studied as it is a representation of the whole cultural make-up of the given social group. The heritage assessment of a single family from the Haitian, Hispanic and the Indian-American cultures depict the overall health traditions of the given cultural groups. The ‘Heritage Assessment Tool’ helps in bringing out the health traditions of each of the given cultures by deducing how the given cultures perceive health regarding maintenance, protection, and restoration from a traditional view. The families interviewed help in determining how the given family identifies itself with the traditions of the given cultural group. The influence of modernization and the reduction of the world into a global village due to advancement in technology has greatly affected and influenced health traditions in various cultures in the contemporary society. Heritage assessment tool depicted the Haitians, Hispanics, and the Indian-Americans as possessing varying needs as far as health is concerned due to the difference in health perceptions and traditions.
The Haitian immigrants into the United States of America make up a significant make-up of the contemporary American population. The population of Haitians across many American cities is growing steadily. The improvement in the health care services in America and the world at large over the past few decades has seen an increased lifespan and reduction in human mortality rate. The betterment of living standards has seen the Haitian population grow and develop steadily in the United States of America. From the heritage assessment tool, a lot can be deduced from the interview of the Haitian family. The Haitians traditions and key cultural aspects that affect health maintenance, protection and restoration include the family cohesion, adoption to a new environment, the perception of technology and generic treatments and the voodoo beliefs held by the Haitians. From the interview of the Haitian family as per the provisions of the Heritage Assessment Tool, it is evident that the Haitians are embracing diversity and the issue of social ties is breaking away from the tribe (Cook Ross Inc., 2010). The Haitians are predominantly Catholics and observe the religious tenets keenly. However, believe in curses, and supernatural powers render many Haitians susceptible to the practice of voodoo.
The interviewed Haitian family is seen to be observing prayer keenly. The Haitians pray for good health and believe that God is the healer and the provider of good health. The Haitians and Haiti happen to have a different theory in health in such that those from the city believe more on modern medical care while those from the rural have a strong belief in traditional medicine. The tendency of Haitians seeking medical assistance late in their stage of illness happens mainly because some of them believe they are only ill when the illness interferes with their ability to work. Haitians seek professional medical as a last resort in some cases especially for the Haitians residing in relatively remote areas in the United States of America.
The interview of the Hispanic (Mexican) family in the heritage assessment provided insight on the health traditions of the Hispanics people. The Mexicans in the United States of America may not represent the true picture of the native Mexicans due to the diversity in the United States of America that has caused cultural shifts and embracing of modernization. However, the Mexican families depict close family relations and a prioritization of health matters. While the use of traditional herbs and traditional health practices such as home-care by relatives, most Mexicans are deviating from traditions due to improvement in their economic status. Also, several Mexican families are now living away thus breaking family ties. The diversity and modernization of the United States of America have seen Mexicans embrace modern health practices. And deviate from traditions, and theological beliefs (Torre & Estrada, 2015).
Indian-Americans make up a key aspect of the American population. The worship of gods by the Indians and their strict adherence to the religious belief are seen to be shaping the health traditions of the Indians in the United States of America. Many Indians are vegetarians and prioritize health matters. The use of traditional herbs and the use of traditional health practices is a key feature in the Indian heritage as far as health is concerned (In Moss & Gonzales, 2016). The opening up of the Indian families has not been quite successful unlike the Hispanics and the Haitians in America. Most Indians live in closed up neighborhoods composed of relatives and people of close family ties. The use of modern medicine and health practices has not been embraced by the Indian societies.
Conclusion
The various health traditions based on cultural heritage include; the use of traditional herbs, believe in supernatural power, home-based traditional care and the shy from the use of ultra-modern health practices. However, the diversity and urbanization are seen to be introducing a new twist in health traditions of various cultures. The families subscribe to traditions and practices through socialization. The family is the primary unit of socialization. Families pass on traditions and practices from one generation to another through socialization. The health maintenance, protection, and restoration call that providers and stakeholders in the health sector learn the communities and implement modern health practices through community-based strategies that will enlighten the masses on the importance of modern health practice.
References
Cook Ross Inc. (2010). Background on Haiti & Haitian health culture. Silver Spring, MD: Cook Ross Inc.
In Moss, M. P., & Gonzales, N. L. (2016). American Indian health and nursing. New York, New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Torre, A. ., & Estrada, A. L. (2015). Mexican Americans and health: ¡sana! ¡sana!. Tucson: The University of Arizona Press.
