Latino/Mexican Culture - Paper Example

More than 60 million people draw their origin from countries that speak Spanish in the U.S and from Spain, with each one having different demographic data as well as economic profiles (Juckett, 2013). With approximately 37 million people, Mexicans form the biggest Hispanic group that constitutes up to 62 % Latinos (Giger & Haddad, 2020). The population of Mexican people increased by 11% between 2010-2017, which was seen as the lowest growth rate (Noe-Bustamante, 2019). Approximately 71% of Latinos speak proficient English, which is similar to the overall share of Latinos (Juckett, 2013). The constitution of the Hispanic population among chief metropolitan areas varies greatly. Latino/Mexican culture is unique when relating with other Hispanic groups regarding time, space, social organization, environmental control, communication, and biological variations.

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The Latino/Mexican ethnic group uses indirect language to communicate. They use the third person in their communication when explaining things. Such communication implies that the subject in question is happening to someone else rather than self. The Latino/Mexicans rely on non-verbal communication as well as gut feeling when communicating at an interpersonal level. The Latino/Mexicans rely on non-verbal communication cues like facial expressions, pitch, body movement, corporeal appearance, emotional appearance, and physical touch to enhance their communication (Juckett, 2013). Particularly, Latinos majorly use facial expressions and sound to relay emotions. A physical connection like kisses and hugs are normal for Latinos greeting one another.

Latino/Mexican culture does not stress on personal space since it emphasizes togetherness. Latino/Mexican individuals like looking at each other for opinions. Latino/Mexicans value working in groups, which mostly revolve around family (Catwright & Shingles, 2011). Latino/Mexicans always gain comfort staying in a group and advancing their issues with togetherness. Latino/Mexicans focus on protecting their families and have a culture of building a wall around their houses (Giger & Hadad, 2020).

Latino/Mexican believe in forming social organizations that bring their members together to advance common goals. Husbands or elder males in each household are considered household heads (Giger & Davidhizar, 2002). The majority of the social structures in the Latino/Mexican groups are centered on the family. Family, in this case, represents the whole extended family that includes distant relatives. The gender roles are majorly traditionally defined, with males being responsible for supporting the family financially while females focus on childbearing (Juckett, 2013). The upbringing of children is the affair of the extended family. Masculinity in the Latino/Mexican culture is seen as being healthy and capable of providing for the family (Noe-Bustamante, 2019).

The Latino/Mexican culture is primarily Catholic, and therefore, spiritual beliefs greatly influence the ailment and health practices of the culture. Latino/Mexicans believe that God controls everything including one's health status (Giger & Davidhizar, 2002). Some people observe ailments as punishments or misfortunes that befall a person. Latino/Mexicans also believe that there is a humoral balance between one's environment and their wellbeing (Juckett, 2013). Latino/Mexicans also believe in supernatural healing for certain illnesses. Some of the traditional diagnoses include empacho, Caida de Mollera, Mal de Ojo, Susto, and Mal Puesto (Catwright & Shingles, 2011).

Latino/Mexican culture is characterized by orienting itself to the present time. Latino/ Mexican observe the past as passed and the future as unsure (Giger & Haddad, 2020). For Mexicans, siesta represents the faith that the present is prioritized over constant work that might provide funds to secure the future (Noe-Bustamante, 2019). Latino Mexicans are known to emphasize on the quality of interpersonal relationships as opposed to its length. Further, Mexicans care less about being punctual in social circumstances like gatherings, and it is normal to arrive a bit late in meetings (Noe-Bustamante, 2019).

The Hispanic population is generally grouped as a culture as opposed to a race, and therefore, they combine racial factors of Native American, Black, and White. The various subgroups in America have different variations of races, and consequently many biological variations (Juckett, 2013). Biological variations exist between cultural groups and within certain cultural groups, which include susceptibility to ailments and drug metabolism. For example, Mexicans might have a variation in skin hue from tan to dark brown (Juckett, 2013). The danger of acquiring diabetes type 2 varies across different Hispanic groups due to a combination of different cultural, social, and genetic factors (Catwright & Shingles, 2011). Mexican Latinos have a high susceptibility for type 2 diabetes, tuberculosis, and hypertension, and lower susceptibility to cholesterol.

The awareness of the Latino/Mexican culture might affect nursing practice significantly. The awareness that Mexican patients value personal connection to communicate will influence the nurses to build a good rapport with the Mexican patient and enhance treatment results (Catwright & Shingles, 2011). The nurses should embrace such qualities as kindness, friendliness, and respect to enhance their care for Mexican patients (Giger & Davidhizar, 2002). Most Latino/Mexicans fail to get better medical services due to factors like cultural and language barriers. Awareness of the Latino/ Mexican culture would influence the nursing practice in that nurses will have to be multilingual and learn how to use the no-verbal cue to improve their communication with Mexican patients (Juckett, 2013). The Mexican culture also delays treatment because the patient tends to seek folk healing first, which causes late treatment.

The Latino/Mexican culture tends to differ significantly with other cultures when it comes to communication, space, time, social organization, environmental control, and biological variations. During communication, nonverbal cues are very important since they complement verbal communication. Latino/Mexicans have little concern with personal space and believe in togetherness. They also believe in the present time and are less time conscious. Mexicans also believe that God has control over all things including illnesses. There are larger variations among Hispanic groups, with Mexicans being more susceptible to tuberculosis, hypertension as well as diabetes type 2. Knowing the Mexican culture might influence the nursing practice such that the nurses will have to grow such qualities as kindness, friendliness, and respect to improve the care of Mexican patients.

References

Juckett, G. (2013). Caring for Latino patients. American Family Physician, 87(1), 48-54. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2013/0101/p48.html

Cartwright, L., & Shingles, R. R. (2011). Cultural considerations when working with Mexicans in Cultural competence in sports medicine. Human Kinetics. https://us.humankinetics.com/blogs/excerpt/cultural-considerations-when-working-with-mexicans

Noe-Bustamante, L. (2019). Key facts about US Hispanics and their diverse heritage. Facttank: News in the, (22). https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/09/16/key-facts-about-u-s-hispanics/

Giger, J. N., & Haddad, L. (2020). Transcultural Nursing-E-Book: Assessment and Intervention. Elsevier Health Sciences. https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=odLVDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=How+space,+time,+communication,+environmental+control,+social+organisation+and+biological+variations+are+perceived+in+the+Mexican+culture&ots=iyuXo7bo9G&sig=exr1NTX9xGmxjCj2cFNTP5mmpHM&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=How%20space%2C%20time%2C%20communication%2C%20environmental%20control%2C%20social%20organisation%20and%20biological%20variations%20are%20perceived%20in%20the%20Mexican%20culture&f=false

Giger, J. N., & Davidhizar, R. (2002). The Giger and Davidhizar transcultural assessment model. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 13(3), 185-188. DOI: 10.1177/10459602013003004