Today, I will be focusing my cultural presentation on the Republic of Haiti, and the beliefs derived from the Haitian culture. Known for its’ warm tropical climate, beautiful mountainous lands, reaching over 8,000 feet. Its’ native name has the meaning “Land of High Mountains”. Haiti is a small country located in the Caribbean Sea between the Dominican Republic and Cuba. The first group of people known to live in this country were the Arawaks and the Tainos, and at that time it was known as the Island of Hispaniola. Haiti has been popular when it comes to extreme dictatorship. When the country was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, it was made into a Spanish colony. By the 1600s, this colony was taken over by the French. And as the city developed, the production crops, such as, cotton, sugar cane, and coffee increased. In 1749, during the French Colonial rule, Haiti’s population was almost pervaded from African slaves entirely, and didn’t gain its’ independence from France until 1804. Making it the first independently black-ruled nation in the world. Haiti is slightly smaller than the United States, but the second oldest republic in the Western Hemisphere, just after the United States. The capital of Haiti is Port-au-Prince, which is also a major tourist attraction. As of February 26th, 2020, there is a population of 11.354,209, estimating to grow even larger mid-2020 (Worldometer- Haiti population, 2020). Haiti’s official languages are French, and Creole. The head of state is Jovenel Moise, serving as the 42nd President of Haiti, with the head of government being Prime Minister Jean Michael Lapin. Since the 1990s, Haiti has undergone various political changes and has been relatively unstable both politically and economically. But today, Haiti is a republic with two legislative houses. This country has sat in the path of a numerous amount of natural disasters. In 2008, Haiti was hit tragically by four different tropical storms causing serious damage in their country. The most recent catastrophic disaster that left this country in aftershock was the 7.0 earthquake in January 2010, which resulted in thousands of individuals being killed, and severe destruction to the capital Port-au-Prince.
Cultural Perspective of Health & Illness
Haitians believe that good health is achieved by a proper balance and equilibrium in the body. There are quite a few things associated with maintaining a proper balance in this culture. The physical aspects include eating properly, maintaining personal hygiene, and getting adequate sleep & exercise. Praying regularly and maintaining good spiritual habits are ways individuals from this culture ensure a spiritual well-being. Also believing if a persons’ mental is off, or has excessive sadness or anger, this could be due to some form of illness. And being in harmony with their loved ones are ways believed to contribute to a healthier life. Haitians may follow a medical professionals’ orders, but they believe that the more they visit the doctor, the sicker they will become. There is also a distrust in Western medicine, this is due to discrimination experienced within this culture. As well as, being at fault for the transfer of infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, into the United States in the early 1980s. But this was not proven to be true. Individuals from the Republic of Haiti, or Haitian culture consider health to be a personal responsibility, by taking things into their own hands, and are very religious. Although, more than half of this population practices Catholicism as a religion, there are also Christian and Protestant believers as well. Some individuals still even believe and practice Voodoo. Considering these beliefs, there are several factors that come into play when it pertains to health and healing. Voodooism is a religion that believes their Gods are derived from the West African religions. In contrast, the Christian and Protestant perspectives are believed to be incompatible with the practice of Voodoo.
Cultural Beliefs & Practices Related to Health, Healthcare, and Utilization of Western Healthcare Services
With Haiti being one of the poorest countries, with 80% of its population is living below poverty level, the absence of modern Western medical care is inevitable. Individuals from the Haitian culture have shown higher rates of distrust in Western Medicine. Being reluctant to seek help, this culture may take herbal, and prescribed biomedicines concurrently. They are known for self-diagnosing. Sometimes taking medicines prescribed for others, but home and folk remedies are usually the first line of treatment. This is due to the lack of health insurance and the affordability. For this reason, an elaborate system of indigenous healers has evolved. The different groups of healers known for these practices include herbal specialists, granny midwives, masseuses, injection specialists, and spiritual healers. Some of their many techniques may include natural medications consisting of leaves, roots, drinking herbal teas, massage, hot herbal baths, or poultice. The difference between Haitian beliefs from Western medicine are most traditional perspectives or views on health and illness within the Haitian culture are fatalistic. The temperature of their bodies, physical health, emotional health, the relationships with their family, and spiritual well-being also plays a huge role in health, as stated above. In their beliefs, whatever happens is predetermined and in God’s will, and illness is perceived to be a punishment from a higher power. Also believing that if a person looks well, they are presumed to be healthy. When it comes to mental illness, Haitians use to feel as if it is taboo and shameful to the family, and a person with this genetic affect are viewed as a curse to the family. These individuals normally receive care at home and sometimes are kept hidden from society.
Effects of Cultural Values on Communication
…..As Haiti continues to rebuild after so many unfortunate mishaps in the more recent year, family and religion have a even greater value in most of their lives. Some have become stronger in their beliefs, while others have adopted new values, or stronger religious views.
Cultural Care Plan
My care plan for an individual of this culture is to listen, thoroughly, to get a full understanding of their chief complaint, and reason for visiting. Ask questions pertaining to their cultural background, lifestyle, beliefs and the steps they take in healing. Just to give me a better idea and understanding on to the care plan I should be taking. As well as, asking more personable questions on how to care for my patient better, and what it is they feel would make them more comfortable at that specific time. Once I gather all the necessary information needed in my patient assessment, I would then give my professional opinion on the measures that should be taken. Acknowledging that my patient likes to do things the more naturalistic way, I would recommend and educate my patient on the more natural, and potential benefits of having some form of therapy regularly. The patient may or may not agree with the procedures recommended, due to their strong cultural beliefs, but it is my duty to diligently show respect and cultural competence, which is the ability to give well informed healthcare information, and effective care to my patient, being from a diverse culture, races, or possibly living a different lifestyles than I. Having respect for that individuals’ decision either way. I have to be mindful, be more sympathetic, giving the extra personable care they may need at that stressful time. It depends on the severity of the situation, other options just may have to be taken. Then ensuring my patients’ reception to the information given, I will then ask if they would like opportunity to contact whoever it was they seeked for healing. Either way, I will respectfully care for my patient the best way I know how, while communicating to the patient and family effectively.
Resources
- U.S. Library of Congress | Countrystudies.us
- J. Ferguson, C. Girault, M. MacLeod, R. Lawless | Haiti- Encyclopedia Britannica 2019
- The World Factbook- Haiti | www.cia.gov
- Haiti | Graphicmaps.com
