Medical Pluralism in the Life of a Mexican Immigrant Woman

Abstract

This case study reflects on the variety of approaches to health care in a pluralistic immigrant urban enclave in Southern California. In-depth interviews were conducted with a Mexican immigrant woman to explore and understand her health worldview and the strategies she uses in deciding among the diverse health care options available to protect and maintain her family's health. Kleinman's typology of health sectors (professional, folk, and popular) is applied to the popular healing practices of the key informant and her own health-seeking behaviors. These expose the conflict between a professional community that relies on categories and binary comparisons and the existence of multiple, simultaneous health care sectors. This case study highlights the paradoxical world of health and illness in a pluralistic medical setting and how those who reside in an environment where medical syncretism exists apparently see their options very differently from their professional health care providers.

Cross-cultural adaptation in urban ethnobotany: The Colombian folk pharmacopoeia in London

“…However, it is doubtable that this essentialist perspective is applicable beyond a theoretical framework, since several studies have shown that migrants neither completely abandon traditional medical practices and health beliefs, nor totally reject the majority culture's health care system (Capps, 1994;Zapata and Shippee-Rice, 1999;Pieroni and Vandebroek, 2007;Pieroni et al, 2007a). Yet, it seems logical that many migrants, especially the most vulnerable ones -in both socio-economic and legal terms -tend to make more use of their own medical help-seeking strategies (Belliard and Ramírez-Johnson, 2005). Many illegal migrants have restricted access to services, which can have serious implications for their physical and mental health.…”

Medical Pluralism in the Use of Sobadores among Mexican Immigrants to North Carolina

“…Medical pluralism denotes that multiple models of health and illness exist in a society, that the models have distinct health beliefs and treatment strategies, and that individuals choose among these models for health care based on diverse factors, including availability, cost, and health condition [22–23]. Pluralistic health systems that include biomedical and traditional health beliefs and treatment have been studied in numerous contexts [24–26]. Hierarchy of resort refers to the order in which individuals select the use of difference health care models and practices [27–31].…”

Illness and Healing in Urban Areas in Chile: Between Tradition and Cultural Adaptation

“…One aspect of indigenous culture that has undergone considerable change is the system of traditional medicine, i.e. the health knowledge, beliefs, values, skills and practices of indigenous people, including all clinical and non-clinical activities and institutions that relate to the health needs of the people (Belliard & Ramírez-Johnson, 2005;Colvard et al, 2006). In spite of a significant amount of research that has been conducted on traditional medical practices in several Latin American countries, changes occurring within urban areas have not been a focus of research (Barnes et al, 2007).…”