IndexNutritionHealth PracticesHealth Dysfunctions Among HispanicsSummaryReferencesAn important, but often overlooked, aspect of nursing is cultural competence. To achieve any level of cultural competence one must be open to learning and accepting other cultures. There are many characteristics of a culture that are critical to achieving cultural competence. Below, I intend to delve into some of the predominant factors most beneficial to nurses and other healthcare professionals for Hispanic heritage. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayNutritionWe are often told that the way to the heart is through the stomach. I believe this simply means that love is put into the food prepared for others, in turn, preparing food for someone is an outward expression of an internal feeling. From what I have learned about Hispanic culture, they also see this as an affirmation of love for others in their culture. Food preparation was a time of family camaraderie in Hispanic culture. It has been stated that “as a collectivist culture, Hispanics tend to be group oriented and place a strong emphasis on family and community ties” (Marquine, et al., 2015). The preparation to usually include all the women in the family, is taken as a time to teach traditional Hispanic cooking, "each person does a different task." Like most cultures, Hispanics eat the food that is available in their environmental area. If they live near water they will tend to consume more fish, if they live further inland their diet consists of more beef, pork and grains. The majority of the Hispanic diet consists of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, herbs, and spices (Oldways, 2019). The food is typically roasted or fried. Fresh foods and spices are especially important to the Hispanic diet. There are many fresh food markets available in Hispanic countries. In the study (2018) participants mentioned some of the frequently visited markets such as “veduleria-vegetable shop, mercado-open-air fruit and vegetable markets, panderias-bakeries and butchers” (Coe et al., 2018). In the United States, with a few exceptions, all markets tend to be one-stop shops. Health Practices When it comes to pain medications, Hispanics often “express negative attitudes and beliefs about the medications. The main reason for refusing drugs was the fear of becoming drug addicted." It is common in Hispanic culture to use “‘healers’ also known as courandero/a” (Johnson & Farquharson, 2019). They would much prefer natural alternatives such as homeopathic ointments, herbal teas, some even use prayer. The majority of the Hispanic population is Catholic and places “great emphasis on religious beliefs in maintaining health and treating disease (Johnson & Farquharson, 2019).” Along with the use of homeopathic and folk medicine, as mentioned above, they tend to have magical-religious beliefs. Although the popular consensus is that "death is accepted when it comes" due to the "it is in God's timing" mentality, they will make offerings to patron saints, light candles with images of saints, use prayer, along with a multitude of other activities religious to address the hopes of healing those they have in mind. In Marquine's (2015) study, the religiosity/spirituality of Hispanic culture appears to have a positive impact on their health. Unlike the United States, Hispanic populations usually have adisposal of some over-the-counter medications that would otherwise be available. prescription only. One of the medications found in local stores that need to be prescribed in the United States would be antibiotics. It was reported by the participant in Johnson and Farquharson's (2019) article that the Hispanic culture typically does not practice preventative healthcare. Hispanic people tend to take a reactive rather than proactive approach to medicine. Among other practices, Hispanics use self-distraction techniques that, in the long term, can have negative effects on their health. However, it is believed that the general population does not necessarily have a trusting relationship with the medical professions, as briefly discussed in Torres et al. (2017) study. When there is some mistrust in a profession, typically those seeking help or treatment from that profession become shy about meeting the professional and may make it difficult to disclose relevant information. This also can negatively affect health among Hispanics. Health Dysfunctions Among Hispanics The Hispanic population tends to be at greater risk of many health disparities. Health disparities that most impact the Hispanic population include: obesity, hypertension, diabetes, liver disease, heart disease, cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, increased rates of teen pregnancy, and unintentional injuries; at the top of the list of causes of mortality would be cancer, heart disease, and unintentional injuries (Velasco-Mondragon, Jimenez, Palladino-Davis, Davis, & Escamilla-Cejudo, 2016). Of course, all of the previously mentioned disparities can be intertwined, with obesity being the most common correlate of the disease processes mentioned. According to CDC statistics (2020) it is recorded that the percentage of men aged 20 years and older with obesity is 41.2% and 48.4% for women. Obesity significantly increases the risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and liver disease. Since obesity is not the only risk factor, other important risk factors mentioned in research by (2016) Velasco-Mondragon et al. include tobacco use, alcohol intake, and employment. Cancer among Hispanics is “more likely to be related to infections, but are less likely to be diagnosed with prostate, breast, lung, and colorectal cancer” (Velasco-Mondragon et al., 2016). . Compared to other cultures, Hispanics typically have a lower rate of cancer-related deaths, but it has recently become the leading cause of death among the Hispanic population. Because of the prevalence of obesity among the Hispanic population, multiple sources noted, Hispanics are disproportionately affected by diabetes. It has been noted that in the United States, Hispanics have a “66% higher rate of diagnosed diabetes than non-Hispanic whites” (CDC, 2020). Regarding the increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies, one risk factor, which is usually not considered, could possibly be related to religious beliefs. It is common for practicing Catholics to be against contraception, with the majority of Hispanics holding to more traditional beliefs of the Catholic faith that include prophylaxis in the form of condoms. However, the CDC (2020) reports that across chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis (primary, secondary, and congenital) Hispanics tested positive 2.25 times more than non-Hispanic whites in the United States. It was also reported by the CDC (2020), in 2018 of newly diagnosed HIV cases in the United States, 27% of which were Hispanic. Please note: this is just a sample. Get a personalized document now come on40985-016-0043-2