A look at Asian Culture and the Implications on healthcare



Implications for Health Care (Molina Healthcare, n.d., p. 5).

* Because young children are rarely separated from their parents or grandparents,

children will respond best with them in the room, particularly during frightening or

invasive procedures.

* Parents may not be aware of teenagers' dating histories.

* Domestic violence is often well-hidden within the family structure.

Diet and Nutrition

* Women may have particular concerns regarding eating certain foods during pregnancy.

Be aware that they may wish to avoid certain foods, such as citrus because it is "hot."

Be prepared with several alternatives.

* Lentils, a staple of the Indian diet, often causes gas. They are not recommended for

breastfeeding women.

food which primarily consists of heated butter, is made into a wide variety of foods. It

is believed to aid in healing the uterus, and is taken in large quantities for ten days after

giving birth. This is one cause of post-delivery weight gain, common in Indian women.

Patients should be cautioned to take ghee in moderation.

* Indian culture encourages increased fat intake, particularly after giving birth. Ghee, a

* Methi

back, for fibrous tissue, and to help the uterus involute.

is another Indian food with medicinal value. It is believed to be beneficial for the

* Honey

cautioning parents not to give it to children under two years old. There may be conflict

in the household between older and younger women about giving of honey to children.

Older Indians are not aware of botulism, the physician should be sure to explain it to

grandmothers as well.

* Indian women may need to evaluated for conditions such as protein malnutrition,

beriberi or thiamine deficiency, pellagra or niacin deficiency, iron-deficient anemia,

and lathyrism (see following) that may be related to a vegetarian diet.

* Lathyrism is a disease specific to the region of Madhya Pradesh. It is caused by eating

certain plants of the genus is an important part of the Indian diet. Physicians should be vigilant inLathyrus and is characterized by irreversible muscular

weakness and paraplegia. Prevalence of lathyrus is decreasing.”

Molina Healthcare. (n.d.). Asian indian culture: influences and implications for health care. Retrieved from http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=990949966720480966

Family Dynamics and Structure