Traditional Childbirth Beliefs Among Latinas/Hispanic Women

I remember my grandmother and mother talking on the importance for a new mother to eat and drink pure dark chocolate so the breast milk could be in more abundance.  Traditional childbirth beliefs are more like a taboo in most parts of Latin America such as Central America and Mexico, very private, and sometimes very embarrassing for the new mothers to discuss with the other women (grandmother, mother, aunt, etc.) their personal postpartum needs.  We also need to keep in mind the literacy level and the regions of the country, where conservatism could be at the highest.  In Central America for example, pregnant women are highly respected by other women and children.  However, in some cases the men can be very demanding on the women to comply in meeting their sexual needs.  Not only during pregnancy but also right after birth.  In Latin America women are expected to rest for 40 days, this includes no sexual activity.

Here is a quick link to a website with some good information about traditional childbirth beliefs.

http://www.hawcc.hawaii.edu/nursing/RNHispanic_04.html

Postpartum
"Latina's traditionally have a forty day period of recuperation called "La Cuarentena".  During this period family members also prepare "purgantes" (home remedies) for the mother that are said to help her body to eliminate impurities from the birth.  Postpartum depression will not occur if these purgantes are taken.  Women are cared for by other women, but are expected to care for their newborn child on their own.  New mother's are discouraged from taking showers for several days, and also discouraged from getting out of bed for the first few hours after birth.  Light foods are provided, including "caldo de pollo" (chicken bouillon), herbal teas, and tortillas, beans are avoided.  Formula promotion in latin america has lead some women to believe breastfeeding is less nutritious, although most women do breastfeed."  

Also check out this link regarding cultural sensitivity taken seriously by hospitals.

http://www.latimes.com/health/ct-x-0727-hospital-concierge-20110727,0,2849109.story

Helen Dao, MHA

Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations

Oral health is a major concern for many families, public health providers, and agencies.  The below link will take you to a just released publication by the National Academies Press.  Oral health is a long standing issue and concern for many Americans, public health organizations, and providers.  When we refer to vulnerable and underserved populations we need to look at a wider spectrum such as people with disabilities, minority groups, seniors, children, etc.  Sometimes poor oral health is not only related to the lack of health insurance, access to services, but also to different cultural practices.  I am providing two links that you can copy and paste to view publication, the first one is the online publication and the second one is to download the publication.

Enjoy!

http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=13116&page=1

http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13116&utm_medium=etmail&utm_source=National%20Academies%20Press&utm_campaign=NAP+mail+New+7.19.11&utm_content=web&utm_term=#description


Helen Dao

Cultural Competency and Emergency Risk Communication

Emergency risk communication is extremely important to be understood and constructed around cultural and linguistic needs of individual served by organizations.  In an emergency, will all your consumers understand and know the instructions?  What should an organization do, think, and act on in order to be prepared in case an emergency?

The CDC’s Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) group is hosting a free webinar on cultural competency and emergency risk communication on July 14, 2011 at 2:00 PM ET.

http://blogs.nachc.com/emergency/?p=282


I will see you all on July 14th!

Helen Dao
helen@daoconsultingservices.com

Dao Consulting Services, Inc. Blog: Management Principles to Reduce Cost and Increase ...

Dao Consulting Services, Inc. Blog: Management Principles to Reduce Cost and Increase ...: "Using management principles to reduce cost in health and social services when increasing consumer’s satisfaction. In today’s health c..."

Management Principles to Reduce Cost and Increase Consumer's Satisfaction

Using management principles to reduce cost in health and social services when increasing consumer’s satisfaction.

In today’s health care system, health disparities continue to be a major concern not just for policy makers and health insurances, but also for the health care providers serving the multicultural landscape of the United States. 

One of the major challenges that organizations are facing is losing private and/or public funding.  So how do organizations continue fulfilling their mission and serving communities in need at a level that assures quality of care and/or services and reduces cost?  This is a big question; we know that many organizations are functioning on a skeleton of staff, closing programs that were vital to many communities, and trying to come up with very innovative ideas to raise new money.  The by-product of current economical stress that organizations are experiencing contributes to health disparities, the inability to serve equally due to lack of resources and funding.

How organizations position is very important; they need to stay in front of their constituents, send a message of loyalty, continuity, and existence.  There are many strategies that can be used and implemented.  At DAO, we are currently working on completing a study that will not only highlight renowned strategy models, but also strategies that organizations can create internally, such as community partnerships, maximizing human capital in order to reduce cost and maintenance, and increase consumer’s satisfaction.

In the mean time, please share with us your most successful strategies and not too successful strategies that we can use as examples (credit will be given to your organizations) so when we publish our work they can be highlighted.  You will receive a copy of our report.

Thank you!