Abstract

GALLAGHER, M.R.  and  REHM, R.S.. The role of Culture-bound syndromes and Mexican Folk Healing in Child Health Promotions. Enferm. glob. [online]. 2012, vol.11, n.27, pp.1-11. ISSN 1695-6141.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1695-61412012000300001.

Purpose: To describe the context in which culture-bound syndromes that mothers of Mexican descent believed affected child wellness and describe how they restored health when these syndromes affected their children. Design: The findings of this come from a larger study that focused on the health promotion and protection practices used by mothers of Mexican descent in urban Texas A naturalistic design, using Spradley's ethnographic interview techniques and participant observations, was selected to explore and describe the child health promotion and protection practices, including culture-bound syndromes, used by mothers of Mexican origin. Method: Data collection consisted of 21 ethnographic interviews enhanced by focused home observations withnine Spanish speaking mothers. Results: To these group of mothers, the culture-bound syndromes of empacho, fright and evil eye could affect children's eating and sleep patterns, thereby causing an imbalance in a child's wellbeing. Therefore the participants believed that they had be mindful of culture-bound syndromes that affected their children's health and take care of those syndromes by using folk remedies to restore balance in their children's' wellbeing. Conclusion: The findings of this study provide an in-depth description of culture-bound syndromes and the folk remedies which mother of Mexican descent used to promote and protect the health of their preschool children. This knowledge provides a framework for healthcare professionals to use when working with mothers of Mexican descent who may be using folk healing to promote and protect the health of their children.

Keywords : Folk Healing; Complementary Alternative Therapies; Health Promotion; Mexican; Maternal/Child.

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