The Cultural Context of Health and Illness: A Look at Hispanic Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers
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Authors
Bowers, Jennifer Kim
Issue Date
1998
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
By learning to identify the cultural components that determine health beliefs,
customs and practices a health care provider can take the first step toward cultural
awareness. There are many subcultures of our society that do not receive adequate care
on account of a lack of understanding of their particular needs. Migrant and seasonal
farm workers are one of the groups most under-served by the health care system.
Farmworkers live in rural areas where health care practitioners are scarce. However, the
problems that migrant workers face go beyond this lack. Many are newly arrived
immigrants from Mexico and, while some may have lived in the United States for years,
many cultural differences still remain. In order to function in the limited facilities of the
Western medical system that are available to them farmworkers must adjust to an
unfamiliar language and new cultural norms.
Although Mexican-Americans are one of the fastest growing populations in the
United States today, proportionately there are very few Spanish speaking medical
professionals. Migrant and seasonal farmworkers not only have to contend with this
difficulty but also have added complications in obtaining health care. Since they do not
have a permanent place of residence they lack continuity in care. Many farm workers are
also newly arrived immigrants and without citizenship are ineligible for government aid.
This is a problem since average income finds most migrant workers living below the
poverty line. The first and most important step to overcoming these obstacles takes place
when medical practitioners learn to be culturally aware.
Description
iii, 35 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo, Mich. : Kalamazoo College.
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder. All rights reserved.