Cultural Practices and Health Care Considerations for Native Americans

Upcoming Quizzes and Exams

• Exam three is due on the 21st.
• Next quiz will cover inclusion and diversity in health care on the 23rd.
• Following quiz will relate to cultural presentations, taken from home.
• Each quiz generally contains 10 questions: likely one question from each of the eight groups presenting, plus two additional questions on broader culture-related topics.

Cultural Care Practices

• Native American vs. Western Medicine:

  • Native American care is family-based, focusing on the patient's entire family in care decisions.
  • Western medicine often emphasizes individual risks and benefits during discussions.
  • Patients in Native American culture may believe that spoken words hold significance, influencing their health outcomes.

• Importance of family involvement:

  • Caring approaches should respect and integrate family dynamics (grandparents, aunts, and uncles).
  • Holistic assessment is vital, addressing mind, body, and spirit.

Major Health Issues in Native American Communities

• Alcohol misuse: Key contributor to chronic liver disease linked to historical trauma.
• Diabetes: Often due to inadequate access to healthy food options on reservations.
• Care duration is crucial as brief interactions are seen as disrespectful.

Birth Practices in Native American Culture

• Birth rituals: Historically, women give birth in isolation near water bodies, using minimal assistance.
• Rituals to ensure safety include washing and rites performed by men.
• Childbirth practices:
  • Women often do not give birth lying down, and babies may fall onto soft materials like leaves.
  • Rituals may involve yelling at the fetus to encourage delivery.
• Post-birth, mothers may dunk the baby in water repeatedly for two years as part of a ritual.

Death Practices in Native American Culture

• Rituals are significant for both honoring the deceased and supporting the family:
  • The deceased is dressed, washed, and adorned meaningfully.
  • The family decides the burial location and performs the burial.
• Mourning practices:
  • Family members may wear black and may not leave home for up to two years.
• Emotional and spiritual aspects of birth and death should be respected by health care providers.

Community Outreach and Health Services

• Native American communities may seek services beyond what the Indian Health Service (IHS) offers.
• IHS often experiences underfunding, leading to reliance on programs like CHIP.
• Important for healthcare providers to recognize the travel distances many patients face to receive care and ensure thorough assessments are performed without feeling rushed.

Presentation Details and Cultural Food Practices

• Students are to review PowerPoint presentations and prepare for group presentations.
• Culture-specific foods: For example, Congolese cultural foods include:
  • Cassava leaf and root
  • Maize
  • Dried fish
  • Red palm oil
• Medicinal interactions with cassava can lead to thyroid hormone complications (both increasing and decreasing effectiveness).
  • Caution suggested due to potential deficiencies linked to iodine and protein levels in individuals.