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MEXICAN-AMERICAN, HISPANIC AMERICAN, AND PUERTO RICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE
MAPSpanish remains the primary language of the Mexicans, Hispanics and Puerto Ricans.
Primary Languages and Communication Styles:Distinction:Mexican people are soft spoken.
A raised voice is thought to indicate anger; staying calm is a respected virtue.
Mexican people may seem to agree when they really do not; nodding may mean nothing more than respect for the athletic trainer.
Personal distance is close (1.5 to 4 feet, or 0.5 to 1.2 meters).
Women may greet each other with a kiss or cheek-to-cheek hug even if it is their first meeting.
Maintaining eye contact is a sign of respect in some cultures, Mexicans may interpret it as a challenge or intimidation.
Silence may indicate many things, such as doubt, shyness, disapproval, anger, politeness, or not understanding.Dos and Donts (Attitudes):
Dont address a person by his or her first name unless you have received permission to do so.
Do greet with Seor (male), Seora (married female), or Seorita (unmarried female).If you must wave, do so with the palm down so as to not offend the person.
Dont point at a person; doing so is considered disrespectful.
Do shake hands, and always start with the oldest person first.Religious Beliefs:Christianity is the most common religion. Most Mexicans, Hispanics and Puerto Ricans identify themselves as Catholic, while a smaller percentage identify themselves as Protestant. Faith and church are often central to family and community life; this is especially apparent in the understanding of illnesses and healing. Health is a gift from God and should not be taken for granted. The prevention of illness is an accepted practice that is accomplished with prayer, the wearing of religious medals, or amulets, and keeping relics in the home.
Visiting shrines, offering medals and candles, offering prayers and the lighting of candles is a frequently observed practice.
Many homes have shrines with statues and pictures of Saints. The candles are lit here and prayers are recited.
El Dia de las Candelarias,or "candlemas," is observed annually on the evening of February 2; people build a massive bonfire around which they drink and dance.
Family cultures:Familism, the prioritization of family considerations over individual or community needs.
Machismo is a stereotype for Mexican males, so keep an open mind not to stereotype each person with this attitude .
A large family is thought to be a sign of machismo because the man of the house has sexual prowess .
Decision making is primarily the responsibility of the adult male, but all close adults may be consulted.
Food Practices:Diet is rich in a variety of foods and dishes that represent a blend of pre-Columbian, indigenous Indian, Spanish, French, and more recently, American culture.
Food is often spicy (there are ninety varieties of chiles), but spicy sauces vary with the region.
Because of extensive use of frying as a cooking method, the diet is also high in fat.
Prepackaged food is not viewed favorably; tortillas, for example, are not store bought but made from scratch.
Puerto Rican customs revolve around the ritual significance of food and drink. It is considered an insult to turn down a drink offered by a friend or stranger.
Common Diseases:Heart disease is theNo. 1killer for all Americans and stroke is the fourth leading cause of death. Mexicans, Hispanics and Latinos, however, face even higher risks ofcardiovascular diseasesbecause ofhigh blood pressure,obesity anddiabetes.
AIDS, alcohol and drug dependency, and a lack of adequate health care coverage are the biggest health-related concerns facing the Puerto Rican community because of the low economic status.
Health Beliefs:In traditional Mexican culture, it is believed that illness results from three causes: sin, imbalance, and witchcraft. To correct an imbalance, people consume foods or herbs with the opposite quality.
Touching a childs head is believed to cause an illness calledcaida de la mollera, which involvesdehydration and vomiting and results in a fallen fontanel.Empacho, an Illness can also result from a dislocation of different parts of the body.
Envidia, or envy, causes illness and bad luck. A spiritual healer (espiritualista) is used to resolve these forms of witchcraft illness.
Susto, also known as fright sickness, arises from a traumatic or frightening experience and is thought to cause soul loss, whereby the soul leaves the body and wanders freely. Tuberculosis (TB) is sometimes classified as susto. Treatments for susto include herbal teas, relaxation techniques, covering the face with a cloth and sprinkling holy water, spitting a mouthful of water or alcohol into the persons face unexpectedly, or the use of a folk healer to coax the soul back to the persons body.
Mal de ojo (bad eye) is caused when someone looks with admiration or jealousy at another person. If the home remedy is ineffective, the ill person may consult a yerbero (herbalist), a sobador (massage therapist), or a partera (midwife). If a person does not experience relief, he or she may seek the services of a curandero (holistic healer). Curanderos, male or female, address the social, physical, spiritual, and psychological aspects of health.Nursing Care: Because family is very important to Mexicans, it may be helpful to speak with both the patient and family members. However, to protect confidentiality, seek a patients permission first.
Do not assume that nonverbal cues, such as nodding yes, mean that a patient is agreeing to take medications as prescribed.
Because many medications, including antibiotics, are obtained easily in pharmacies in Mexico, it is important to ask patients what medicines or treatment they have taken for their symptoms.
Take time to establish rapport. Mexican patients may more likely trust health care workers with whom they have a personal relationship.
Many Mexican patients may not speak English fluently and may prefer interactions and materials in Spanish.
Recognize that some Mexicans may use folk remedies. As a result, they may delay seeking treatment while waiting to see the effect of these remedies.
Seek a patients permission before making physical contact during an examination. Mexicans may be uncomfortable being touched by a health care provider.END.
