Indigenous Spiritual Health and Medication

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Table of Contents

Introduction
The effect of spiritual belief and medical care
The socio-economic conditions on medical care
Cultural beliefs affecting the medical care
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Indigenous population refers to the category of individuals who have lived at a particular place for a long time. Indigenous people exhibit loyalty to their cultures by holding to its teachings (Kirk, 2008). Despite the pressure experienced by such people from external powers, they remain faithful to what their cultures dictates. On the contrary, non-indigenous people are flexible in their undertakings. Therefore, this paper aims at examining the indigenous spiritual health and medication. In the effort to explain the above, the paper will include the differences in medical care between indigenous and non-indigenous categories.

The effect of spiritual belief and medical care

People residing at diverse locations around the globe have varied beliefs concerning their health. However, these beliefs pose great challenges to medical practitioners while treating them. In explaining this statement, the examination of Latinos, which is an indigenous group found in United States will be essential (Kirk, 2008). Despite the diversity of the different groups that constitute the Latinos, studies show that they possess common cultural practices. Amongst the practices exercised by this cultural group, which intensifies the treatment process includes; their beliefs in folk illnesses, supernatural beings, magic, as well as witchcraft (Kirk, 2008). As opposed to the non-indigenous groups, Latinos depict a strong belief in existence of illnesses, which they argue that no hospitals remedy can help in curing them. In most cases, this group of people majorly seeks refuge from traditional healers.

The socio-economic conditions on medical care

In trying to define the indigenous health, it is fundamental to comprehend that the physical, social, as well as the psychological health is key in the overall individual’s well-being. However, despite the similarities witnessed in the health of varied indigenous groups, studies designate a wide gap amid this category and the non-indigenous groups (Kirk, 2008). The decline in the socio-economic conditions of most indigenous groups has adversely affected their health. During the colonial times, most indigenous groups experienced some key transformations.

The colonial powers possessed great interest in acquiring most of their resources. They, therefore, culminated into settling at the fertile lands leaving the inhabitants poor. They also suffered significantly from the political autonomy. It is apparent that these invaders brought with them numerous dreadful diseases, which left a large proportion of their inhabitants dead (Lueckenotte, 2006). Consequently, their poverty further contributed to their powerlessness to access the most basic care. Concurrently, the non-indigenous groups could access all the necessary health services. Thus, it is clear that the economic position of such groups adversely influence the medical practices given to them.

Cultural beliefs affecting the medical care

Literatures show that health professionals undergo many challenges while attending to indigenous people. Organist a, Marin & Chun (2009), illustrates a life story of a certain family in the U.S. The cultural practices of the population from which the family ailed from did not acknowledge the use of medical care in treating ailments (Organista, Marin & Chun, 2010). Therefore, their daughter fell sick. According to them seeking for medical solutions did not linger their minds (Austin & Boyd, 2010). However, a neighbor’s advice helped them change their stand on the matter, thus taking her to a health centre. The doctor diagnosed her with epilepsy, treated, and discharged her. Because of their neglect to follow medication, she finally died.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is clear that, cultural practices, spiritual beliefs, as well as socio-economic factors contribute significantly to difficulties in offering healthcare to the indigenous groups as opposed to non-indigenous groups. The Latinos of the U.S. are an appropriate example of a group that failed to belief in hospital related remedies in taking care of illnesses. This means that even after seeking medical advice they may end up neglecting it thus the challenge for the health practitioners.

References

Austin, W. & Boyd, M. (2010). Psychiatric & mental health nursing for Canadian practice. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Kirk, W. (2008). Encyclopedia of public health. New York, NY: Springer publishers.

Lueckenotte, A. (2006). Gerontologic nursing. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Health Sciences.

Organista, P., Marin, M. & Chun, M (2010). The psychology of ethnic groups in the United States. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

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Indigenous Spiritual Health and Medication

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