African American Cultural Belief about Health Care - Essay Example

Introduction
Culture is the integrated patterns of conduct among humans and includes the beliefs, customs, actions, language, and other aspects related to a particular group. Concepts regarding health and medicine are deeply entrenched in the culture. Every culture has an existing perception regarding health care provision, diseases, treatment, as well as health in general. In the recent past, a lot of research on how culture affects health care provision and medicine has been going on. Culture affects aspects such as eating habits and thus affects health outcomes. Additionally, different cultures have different health attributions, which influence health behaviors. I am an African American Catholic girl from a middle-class family. However, the beliefs are closely related to those of black Americans who were born in the U.S. Amongst the African Americans, the education levels vary greatly and it is thus important that physicians treat persons from such cultures first as individuals, not from a group perspective. However, there are shared beliefs regarding health matters amongst African Americans (Quaye, 2005).

In the past, there existed persons who were considered healers and were believed to have received the healing power from God. Additionally, there were root and herb doctors who were consulted for medical purposes. However, these concepts are slowly fading away. Certain roots and herbs were believed to be capable of healing some illnesses. Additionally, the African Americans believed in casting spells using roots and herbs. They claimed that magic was capable of inducing or curing illnesses (Vaughn, Jacquez, & Baker, 2009). The kidnapping and slave trade affected African Americans. I have realized that it takes time for people in my culture to trust someone. This can affect health provision since it determines the willingness of patients to follow the doctor’s advice or prescriptions. It is thus important for physicians to be open to patients from African American culture to build trustworthiness (Vaughn, Jacquez, & Baker, 2009; Quaye, 2005).

Health is greatly influenced by eating habits. Additionally, eating habits are greatly defined by culture. Many people in African American families consume extremely starchy and greasy food. This leads to increased body sizes that characterize most people from African American culture. Additionally, this has an effect on the rate of occurrence of illnesses such as diabetes and obesity. Moreover, large numbers of restaurants and bars that sell alcoholic drinks are characteristic areas where African Americans reside. This results in severe cases of overindulgence in alcohol among African Americans (Quaye, 2005; Levin, Chatters, & Taylor, 2005).

One past belief in African American culture was on blood. They claimed that blood is constantly formed and eliminated in ways such as menses in women and sweat in men. Diseases such as chickenpox, measles, and diaper rash were considered to be a result of impurities in the blood. Diseases such as hypertension, which is common among African American is not taken seriously by less educated African Americans since they argue that blood pressure and viscosity vary with temperature. Most blood-related African Americans do thus not take blood-related problems seriously even today (Vaughn, Jacquez, & Baker, 2009). Although I come from a Catholic family where we can freely seek medical assistance, I have realized that some African Americans believe that illnesses are sent from God and the sick should seek divine intervention when sick (Levin, Chatters, & Taylor, 2005).

Although I originate from African American culture, my religion has played a great role in determining my views regarding health care. However, the culture has contributed to my belief that health care systems should be designed to address different cultures. Additionally, it is important for physicians to consider the culture of the patients when offering treatment. This is because people take doctors’ advice differently. For example, old people from African American culture are likely to ignore some medications, particularly those that are supposed to be taken throughout one’s life. However, I believe that education can help change some perceptions regarding health care in addition to enhancing communication.