Cultural Health Beliefs and Practices Among Hispanic Parents.

Creator(s)

Alison L. Fowler, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Megan E. Mann
Francisco J. MartinezFollow
Hung-Wen Yeh, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
John Cowden, Children's Mercy Kansas CityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2022

Identifier

DOI: 10.1177/00099228211059666

Abstract

Parents' beliefs about and approaches to their child's health vary with culture and change within cultures over time. To provide an updated understanding of folk and traditional medicine (FTM) among Hispanic parents in the United States, we surveyed 200 caregivers identifying their child as Hispanic in a pediatric primary care clinic about their cultural health beliefs and practices. Overall, 84% of participants believed in ≥1 folk illness, with foreign-born participants more likely than US-born to endorse folk illness beliefs. Eighty-three percent had used cultural remedies for their children. Of those, although just 15% had discussed such practices with their child's provider, 86% would feel comfortable doing so. No demographic factors predicted use of cultural remedies/healers or comfort talking to providers. Beliefs and practices related to FTM are prevalent among Hispanic parents and cannot be predicted using demographics; providers should routinely ask all families about FTM.

Journal Title

Clinical pediatrics

Volume

61

Issue

1

First Page

56

Last Page

65

Keywords

Hispanic/Latinx children; cultural remedies; folk and traditional medicine; folk illnesses

Recommended Citation

Fowler AL, Mann ME, Martinez FJ, Yeh HW, Cowden JD. Cultural Health Beliefs and Practices Among Hispanic Parents. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2022;61(1):56-65. doi:10.1177/00099228211059666