Traditional Health Beliefs

Irish Americans

• Folk Medicine Beliefs are determined to be “safe” and “neutral”. They do not cause benefit or harm.
• Activities Include: blessing of the throat, tying a bag of camphor around the neck to prevent flu, keeping closet doors closed to block evil spirits, not looking in a mirror at night, keeping a strong and loving family, and wearing holy medals.
• Delay seeking medical attention until the situation is quite serious
• First line of treatment will often be home remedies
• Folk medicine practices that are deemed beneficial include: getting plenty of rest, maintaining a positive attitude, eating a balanced diet, taking vitamins.

 

Italian Americans

• The cause of illness is a result of a contagion or contamination hereditary related to a supernatural or human cause. They are also related to wind currents or bear diseases or psychosomatic causes.
• Fresh air is considered healthy air while drafts cause illness
• “Evil eye” and curses, which are the result of either God or sent by an evil person.
• Keeping emotions bottled up is unhealthy and if the emotions are not let out, serious consequences will occur.

 

The Amish

• Wish to be born at home and die at home
• Deep fear of disability – feared more than death
• The use of modern technology and modern medicine is not forbidden
• They have to ask for a blessing from the church
• Community will come together to help pay medical bills
• Only exception is a heart transplant because the heart is viewed as the soul of the body.
• More likely to rely on folk or herbal remedies such as: vitamins, homeopathic remedies, health foods, reflexology, and chiropractors.

 

Roma (Gypsies)

• Lack of knowledge about access to health services and how to provide them appropriately to the Roma population.
• Some diseases are seen as belonging to the Roma, which requires treatment by their own traditional healers.
• Other diseases are seen as a result of contact with the outside world.
• Majority of Roma are governed by a series of rules about what is considered pure or impure.

Jewish Americans

• Believe in keeping the mind and body healthy
• Practice preventative health care and participate in routine screenings and complete all recommended immunizations.
• Believe that illness requires early and prompt treatment.
• Religious requirements may be disregarded if a life is at stake, or the person is dealing with life-threatening illnesses.
• They have good hygiene and sanitation practices.

 

Russian Americans

• Preventive health care is practiced and health screening is seen as the key to good health.
• Routine mammograms and breast exams are seen as being of little value
• Place little value on prevention and a lot of value on pharmaceuticals.
• Prefer alternative therapies like: cupping, massage therapy, and acupressure/acupuncture.
• Prefer to utilize homeopathic or folk medicines.
• Trust is essential to the doctor – patient or nurse – patient relationship.
• They feel that in the US, physicians have little concern with the cause of disease and the put their main focus on treatment.