This study endeavors to understand the Latino healthcare cultural beliefs by describing how the Latino think, describe, and act in response to health care concerns. Notably, the study capitalizes on the symbolic-expressive dimension of social life, which informs the health care view of the Latino. As the second-largest immigrant group, the actual position of Latinos ought to be evaluated and the findings incorporated into actions that will further ameliorate the condition.
Background
In the context of this study, the word Latino signifies Americans of the Spanish and Latin descend residing in the United States. Therefore, persons that identify as Latinos can be of any race. Overall, there are almost 60 million Americans who identify as Hispanic and Latino, representing about 18 percent of the overall population ( Meade, 2016 ). Notably, Latinos' origin/ancestry is diverse, as the term encompasses individuals from the Mexican and Portuguese territories, including Brazilians. Nonetheless, Latinos form a pan-ethnicity that incorporates a diverse and inter-related cultural and linguistic heritage. In particular, most American Latinos (Hispanic Americans) trace their origin to Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Salvador, Dominic Republic, and Colombia ( Meade, 2016, p. 6 ). Statistics published by Worldometer (2020) show that Hispanic Americans form the second-largest and second fastest-growing ethnic group, by percentage, in America. Observably, most Latinos are concentrated towards the North of America.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Culture is a conceptual term that reveals an individual’s world view and includes expressions, experiences, symbols, customs, material behaviors, morals, values, attitudes, and beliefs- common to a group of individuals within a community. Subsequently, beliefs and values that are unique to a certain group represent cultural themes that shape their worldview ( Chang, Jetten, Cruwys, & Haslam, 2017 ). In summary, the description of Hispanic/Latino Cultural themes adopts terms such as Familismo, Personalismo, Jerarquismo, Presentismo, and Espiritsmo. Therefore, the Latinos focus on the present and believe that both good and evil acts affect individuals’ wellbeing and spirit ( Chang, Jetten, Cruwys, & Haslam, 2017, p. 18 ). Additionally, the Latinos attach importance to family, show respect for hierarchy, and generally display mutual respect. Notably, Latinos understand and communicate in American English and a majority has a better understanding of Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Portunol languages, among many others. Lastly, Latinos are predominantly Christian, with the majority subscribing to Roman Catholicism.
Discussion
Prevalent Healthcare Beliefs and Needs of the Latinos
Studies conducted in 2018 by Worldometer (2020) supposes that about 19 percent of Hispanic and Latino Americans lack health insurance cover, representing a group with the largest gap for insurance coverage in America. Of these numbers, Mexican women account for 54.6 percent, the highest uninsured rate in the country, compared to other immigrants (Worldometer, 2020). Unfortunately, further studies reveal that Mexican women are the largest female immigrant that are at more risk for developing preventable conditions and diseases. The reasons for such a manifestation are multifaceted, though legal status, income level, and limited access to health care serve as key contributing factors ( Meade, 2016 ). Allegedly, many undocumented Latinos avoid the hospital for fear of deportation, until they become seriously ill.
The Effects of Latinos Perceived Cultures on their Health
A majority of Latinos migrate to the United States in search of better economic opportunities. Unfortunately, the realization that many of the Latinos are undocumented limits the possibilities of jobs, hence most of them live in depilating conditions ( Campos & Kim, 2017 ). The high poverty levels greatly influence their attitudes towards health, as many of them work in areas considered hazardous to health. Also, the many hardships Latinos face renders vulnerable to diseases, and the fact that they are poor partly explains their hesitation to visit health facilities. Ultimately, a majority of Latinos living in America suffer from stress and stress-relating conditions.
A Comparison between the Cultural Healthcare Beliefs of African-American and Latinos
The African Americans trace their origin to Africa, where there is a strong belief in supernatural powers, and illness is given a spiritual consideration. However, a majority of African Americans are adequately educated and have accepted the convention outlook of ailments, causes, and treatment ( Campos & Kim, 2017, p. 543 ). Unfortunately, like their counterparts, a majority of African Americans live in poverty and hence lack health insurance coverage and are equally at a high risk of contracting preventable conditions. This is to say that most African Americans are affected by the same conditions as Latinos. However, most blacks residing in the United are documented, hence do not avoid hospitals when sick.
The Cultural and Communication Considerations that Should be taken when Caring for Latinos
A background review of the Latinos and their healthcare beliefs revealed that most Latinos have higher rates of obesity and diabetes mellitus, suggesting the need to address Latino’s eating preferences, as well as their exercise programs ( Philbin, Flake, Hatzenbuehler, & Hirsch, 2018 ). Additionally, the study earlier confirmed that most Latinos live in poverty and suffer from mental problems associated with a lack of money such as stress. Consequently, an effort to address the health care conditions of Latinos should aim at tackling such issues. Most importantly, the best communication strategy to address healthcare concerns common to Latinos must be sensitive to the identified Latino cultural values of personalismo, simpatia, respeto, and modestia.
Disparities to be Considered for Latinos related to Communication
Language barriers indeed contribute to health care disparities, especially for minority groups in the United States. Accordingly, health communication efforts with the Hispanic and Latinos ought to focus on cultural traditions, family, and collectivism and should streamline any gaps created by the language barrier. Therefore, all interested parties need to familiarize themselves with the Latino culture before suggesting alternatives.
Conclusion
In summary, this study affirms that the Latinos are the second-largest minority group in the United States, after African American. Latino's cultural outlook resembles their predecessors and peers from different countries. Most Latinos living in the United States are of modest means, fairly educated, and moderately exposed to other cultures. Consequently, Latinos are conservatives, show respect to hierarchy, and respect trust and mutual respect. Unfortunately, many Latinos are poverty-stricken and are at the highest risk of contracting preventable conditions. Therefore, a communication plan to address the gaps identified herein should be sensitive to the cultural beliefs of Latinos and should aim at inclusivity, to achieve success.
References
Campos, B., & Kim, H. S. (2017). Incorporating the cultural diversity of family and close relationships into the study of health. American Psychologist , 72 (6), 543.
Chang, M. X. L., Jetten, J., Cruwys, T., & Haslam, C. (2017). Cultural identity and the expression of depression: A social identity perspective. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology , 27 (1), 16-34. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/casp.2291 .
Meade, T. A. (2016). History of modern Latin America: 1800 to the present . John Wiley & Sons. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=p1OzCgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR13&dq=latin+america+history&ots=Aig9YdckDa&sig=k88yUznIEVExA1QMMDWSE59xw34&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=latin%20america%20history&f=false .
Philbin, M. M., Flake, M., Hatzenbuehler, M. L., & Hirsch, J. S. (2018). State-level immigration and immigrant-focused policies as drivers of Latino health disparities in the United States. Social Science & Medicine , 199 , 29-38. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953617302307 .
Worldometer. (2020, January 12). US Population . Retrieved from Worldometer: https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/us-population/
