HISPANIC
CULTURE
G R O U P 4 – D O C TO R , G O N Z A L E S ,
G R I A R T E , K I N G , PAT R O N , S I LV A ,
VILLALUZ
OV ERVIEW/HERITAGE
OVERVIEW
• Location: Southwestern Europe bordering the
mediterranean sea, north atlantic ocean, Bay of
Biscay and Pyrenes Mountains: Southwest of
France
• Capital: Madrid
• Population: 46,070,146
• Climate: temperate, clear hot in summers in
interior: moderate and cloudy along coast cold
winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along
coast
• Ethnic Groups: Castillan (75%), Catalan (16%),
Galician (6.5%), Basque (2%)
ARTS AND
CULTURE
• Has artistic, music and dance
heritage
• Produced great artists like
Picasso, Dali, Goya and
Velasquez
• Literature is well documented
including Cantar de Mio Cid
• The Iconic Spanish Guitar -
played when there is family and
cultural celebration
COMMUNICATION
LANGUAGE, SOCIAL CUSTOMS, AND
ETIQUETTES
• Language
– 90% of the population - Castilian Spanish
– 17% Catalan
– 7% Galician
– 2% Basque
• Social customs:
– Names:
o Children - First name, paternal name, maternal name
o Women - do not change their names when married
• Etiquettes:
– Shake hands
– When relationship is
established: embrace and
pat on the shoulder
– Female: kisses on the cheek
starting from left
– Formal Occasion:
• Don + first name
• Doña + first name
– Two handed shake:
• Left hand placed on the
right forearm of the
other person
COMMUNICATION STYLE
• Formal
• Proud and protective if their standing and how other people percieve them
• Boasting of achievement and personal accomplishments should be avoided
• Extrovert and friendly (typical Mediterranean culture)
• Men have no fear of personal space
GIFT GIVING
• When invited, guest should
bring a gift.
• Chrysanthemums should not
be given
• White lilies, red roses and
flowers should be odd numbers
except 13
• When hostess has children:
guest should bring small gifts
for the children
• When receiving a gift: hostess
should open the gift in front of
the guest
DINING AND FOOD
• Stand until invited to sit down
• Always keep hands visible, and keep wrists
on the table
• Do not begin eating until the hostess starts
• Not finished eating: Cross knife and fork: fork
over knife
• Finished eating: knife and fork parallel to the
plate: tines facing up while handles facing to
the right
TABOOS
• Do not talk about religion
• Dinner starts on or after 9pm
• No planning for the tuesday 13th
FAMILY ROLES &
ORGANIZ ATION
HISPANIC FAMILY
• Hispanic people are very family-oriented. They have strong family
structures and many of them still live with their families in one
single house by following the system of joint families.
• Every member of the family has role to play and people pay
importance to traditional values and family teachings.
FAMILY ROLES
• FATHER: He occupies the position of authority
and respect and takes the most decisions for the
family. There is a belief that men should be string
and honorable. They are expected to protect and
provide for their families. Strong manlihood is
affluenced by the Machismo.
• MOTHER: They are the natural caregivers and
often play the role of house-wives. They are
highly valued and is responsible for taking care of
their children and other elder members of the
family as well. Some mothers are working
outside the home whilst most of them are at
home. The important decisions that they make
are day to day household chores and kitchen
matters.
FAMILY ROLES
• CHILDREN: the one raised with high-expectations; they are expected to be
responsible and cooperative and they are not taught to have higher authority
than their parents. They do not take part in the decision making hence they
are asked to help their mothers in the kitchen, helping fathers with certain
tasks etc.
• EXTENDED FAMILY: Familism is the central concept in the Hispanic
community. The extended families include the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and
cousins etc. The 3 major aspects of an extended family (1) Family obligations,
(2) Emotional Closeness and Support, (3) Respect. Families are expected to
have get together. Grandparents are the ones who acts as a peacemaker when
there are family disputes.
EDUCATION
• There is a stereotype that hispanic people do not value education which in fact
Hispanic people do value education.
• The difference is how they show they value education.
• Traditionally Hispanic people view the teacher with great respect, and maybe
because of having too much respect to the teacher they are reluctant to ask or
even speak up when they have something in mind. which may show signs of not
valuing education.
• Also in most Hispanic families the parents are working more than 1 job which
means they will have less time to spend with their children to help them in
school work which may result in lack of homework from the kid and maybe
low attendance at school meetings, but it should be perceived as not valuing
education.
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
• Preschool (educación infantil)
– divided in 2 cycles
– first cycle 0-3 years old - optional; families need to pay if they want first
cycle of preschool.
– second cycle 3-6 years old - obligatory; free
• Elementary (colegio)
– from 6 - 12 years old
– Made up to 6 school years
– This where students learn education about culture, oral expression,
reading, writing, math. Basically teaches focusing on students cognitive and
social development.
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
• Middle school & High school (Educación Secundaria Obligatorio)
– 12 - 16 years old
– Compulsory Second Education (include first 2 years of HS in US)
– This is where students develop their critical thinking skill and other skills that will
help them in their early adult lives. such as working as part of a team.
• Spanish Baccalaureate
– 16 - 18 years old (last 2 years of HS in US)
– Although it is not required more kids are deciding to stay for their last 2 years
which will help them to a more specific field study they want to get in like: arts,
science,technology, humanities & social science
– Once finished students can take university entrance exams or go to vocational
training.
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
• Vocational Training (Formación Professional)
– Job-specific programs that will prepare the students to enter directly into
work.
• University & Higher Education
– Usually requires 4 years of study
– Higher education consists of: Bachelor (Grado) 4yrs, Masters Degree
(Máster) 2yrs, Doctorates (Doctorado) post masters education.
– Unlike Elementary to Highschool, Studying in a University is not free. The
students are responsible to pay for their higher education.
WORKFORCE
ISSUE
• There are about 24 million workers of Hispanic descent in the United States.
• Workers of Mexican descent are by far the largest subgroup of the Hispanic
workforce (14.9 million
• Women make up only 43.3 percent of the overall Hispanic workforce, but they
are a majority of several subgroups, including Panamanians (58.1 percent),
Bolivians (53.2 percent), and Paraguayans (51.0 percent); About two-thirds of
Hispanic workers are U.S. citizens – Puerto Ricans (98.7 percent) and
Spaniards (90.9 percent) are the groups most likely to be citizens;
• Hispanic workers in general are more likely than workers of any other
race/ethnicity to be in poverty. Among Hispanics, Guatemalans are most likely
to be members of the working poor (19.1 percent);
• About 30 percent of Hispanic workers do not have health insurance, but over
half of Guatemalan and Honduran workers lack health insurance.
BIOCULTURAL
ECOLOGY
SKIN COLOR AND BIOLOGICAL
VARIATIONS
• With a multiracial heritage, Hispanics’ skin coloring varies from white to light
olive or dark brown to black.
• Hair color can also vary from blonde or red to dark brown or black.
• Hispanic infants frequently have Mongolian spots (dark blue-green
discoloration) or “birth marks” on the back or the thighs.
• Individuals with dark eye color, it may be difficult to assess the size of the
pupils when testing dilation.
DISEASES AND HEALTH CONDITIONS
• Diseases endemic to Central and South America
– Hansen’s Disease (leprosy)
– Cholera
– Yellow fever
– Malaria
– Ascariasis
– Roundworm
• Ciguatera- a tropical disease that affects the neurological system of humans
who have eaten infected fish.
DISEASES AND HEALTH CONDITIONS
• Common childhood illnesses and diseases:
– Lead poisoning
– Anencephaly/Spina bifida in the Southwestern border towns
• Poisoning due to ingestion of mercury is found among some Mexican children
whose parents give them azogue, a type of mercury, to treat “empacho” (upset
stomach).
• The risk of breast cancer among Hispanics is the same as for non-Hispanic
whites
• The likelihood of cervical cancer is twice that for white women and is
associated with a 5-year survival rate, slightly higher than for whites.
DISEASES AND HEALTH CONDITIONS
• Death due to stomach cancer is twice as likely for Hispanics as for whites.
• Skin cancer is most commonly detected in Hispanics on the mucosal areas of
the body, under the nails, and on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is lower in Hispanic
immigrants compared with whites and non-immigrant Hispanics.
• Heart disease risk is lower in non-Hispanic whites, yet is higher in Mexican
American women than in non-Hispanic women.
• Hispanics are more likely to have diabetes and more complications from
diabetes than their white counterpart.
HIGH - RISK
BEHAVIOR
HIGH RISK BEHAVIOR
• Hispanic 8th and 10th grade adolescents are more likely than non-Hispanic
Whites and Blacks to use nearly all classes of drugs (Johnston et al., 2007).
• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Weekly Surveillance Report for
January 9, 1989, showed 83,231 cases of AIDS reported to CDC. Of these,
15%, or 12,487, were among Hispanics, nearly twice their general population
representation of 8.1 percent, according to the 1988 Bureau of the Census
estimate
• Marginalization, including homophobia, poverty, and racism, as well as cultural
factors such as machismo and sexual silence disempower people, making HIV
prevention difficult
HIGH RISK BEHAVIOR
• In all Hispanic subgroups, men who have sex with men have been highly
affected
• HIV has also spread disproportionately among injection drug users, particularly
Puerto Ricans on the island and on the mainland
• Cultural forces such as traditional gender roles reinforce the belief that men
cannot control their sexual impulses and that sex is not to be discussed
NUTRITION
NUTRITION
• Meats are normally prepared over high heat
• One dish meals are typical, almost always served with warm
tortillas
• Casseroles known as sopas-secas, using stale tortilla pieces, rice and
macaroni are eaten as main dishes
• Hearty soups or stews (Caldos) are favorite family dinner entrees
• Tacos, Flautas, Enchiladas,Tamales, Quesadillas and Burritos
NUTRITION
Common Hispanic Foods:
✓ Grains
✓ Beans
✓ Meats/Alternates
✓ Dairy
✓ Cultural Vegetables
✓ Cultural Fruits
NUTRITION
Attitude about weight
• Thin = Dangerous/Illness
• Overweight = Wealth
NUTRITION
Chronic Disease Burden
▪ Listeriosis is more prevalent
▪ High rate of uncontrolled high blood pressure
▪ High rate of uncontrolled diabetes
▪ 23% more obesity
NUTRITION
Leading causes of death
PREGNANCY &
CHILDBEARING
PRACTICES
• Pregnancy is anticipated after marriage
• Hispanic mothers have the highest rates of late or no prenatal care
• When going to the clinic it is usually the mother or sister who
comes with the woman not the husband
HISPANICS ON BIRTH CONTROL
• Limited access to family planning services, health care
• Tends to rely on less effective methods
• Most common are pills and condom use
• Limited long term contraceptive use (IUD)
• Aspects that affect birth control use:
– Social - belief that women must stay home
– Financial - birth control costs are too expensive
– Educational - low level education on birth control
– Religious - mostly catholics, birth control banned by Vatican
CULTURAL TABOO & SUPERSTITIONS
• Hispanic women are not allowed to observe an eclipse if there is
one because it can cause a cleft palate (Bingot).
• Earthquake can trigger preterm labor or miscarriage
• Heartburn - hairy baby
• Cold air considered dangerous
• Some women wear cord beneath the breast & knotted over the
umbilicus to prevent morning sickness & to make sure of a healthy
pregnancy.
CULTURAL TABOO & SUPERSTITIONS
• Restrictions
– Pregnant women should not do heavy strenuous work
– Exercise during pregnancy
POSTPARTUM
• For the first 2 days they only eat boiled milk and toasted tortillas.
(believed to restore warmth in the body)
• Keep mothers feet and head protected from cold air
• Often gets taken care by her own mother
• “La Cuarentena” means the quarantine or the 40-day practice.
• Completion of “La Cuarentena” is said to bring good health later in
life.
NEWBORN BELIEFS
• Mal de ojo (evil eye) used to ward of bad luck similar to our culture
the “usog”
• Male - no circumcision
• Female - pierced ear
• Sunken fontanel - breastfeeding ended too early
• Baby’s first hair cut
DEATH RITUALS
CARING FOR THE DYING
• In traditional Hispanic families, the care provided for a terminally ill
family member is performed by a female relative.
• Ideally, the ill person is cared for at home until he or she passes
away with a family member remaining by their side until the end.
• Spending time with a family member who is close to death also
allows relatives to resolve outstanding issues within the family.
RELIGIOUS FAITH
• The Church teaches that the soul is eternal and continues on after
the physical body has died.
• Pain and illness may be seen as a test of the individual's and the
family's religious faith.
• The family of a seriously ill individual may reach out to the local
priest for support in the time prior to death; once the person has
passed, the priest will provide support and assistance with funeral
arrangements.
LAST RITES
• A Catholic, on his or her deathbed, is given last rites by a priest and
is anointed with holy oil for this purpose.
• The priest hears the dying person's confession and offers
absolution.
• The patient, when able, receives Communion and a blessing from
the priest.
HOLDING A WAKE
• Once a Hispanic individual has died
and the body has been prepared for
burial, the family will hold a wake.
• In this culture, the wake is much
more of a social event than the
traditional one. This is a time for
friends and family members to share
memories of the deceased.
• Food is served during the wake and
some attendees play cards or
dominos.
• Flowers and candles will be placed in
the room where the visitation is
being held.
FUNERAL RITUALS
• The funeral process will likely include a
Mass held in a church.
• The casket carrying the deceased is
transported to the location and close
family members take part in a
processional as it is moved close to the
altar.
• Open expressions of grief are acceptable
for females in this culture.
• For men, breaking down after a death is
not the norm. They are expected to be
strong and keep their emotions in check.
FUNERAL RITUALS
• According to beliefs in this culture, the dead return on certain days
of the year. Therefore, the body must be buried for this to occur.
• Cremation is not a common option in Hispanic culture.
• Friends and extended family members commonly accompany the
immediate family to the cemetery for the internment.
SPIRITS LIVE ON
AFTER DEATH
• The Hispanic culture of death and
dying believes that when a person
passes, he or she has moved onto
a different phase of life.
• Their loved ones live on in spirit
and are very much a part of the
family, even if they are no longer in
this realm.
SPIRITUALIT Y
SPIRITUALITY
• Many people perceive Latin
America as a Catholic
continent, countless other
religions and spiritual traditions
exist throughout South and
Central America and the
Caribbean.
• Also, in Latin America there is
now a string influence of
Protestant religion and people
who were raised Catholic are
open to learning and joining
Christian churches.
• religion Catolica (Catholic religion)
• la Misa dominical (Sunday mass)
• la comunion (the comunion)
• la confesion (the confession)
• Imagenes (icons)
• La Virgen de Guadalupe (The Guadalupe Virgin)
LA VIRGEN DE
GUADALUPE
• Also known as La Reina de Mexico”
(the patron Saint of Mexico)
• Every December 12, Catholics all
over the world(especially in Latin
America) celebrate the day of the
Virgin of Guadalupe.
• December 9 and 12, 1531 is the
date believed by Mexican people
wherein a man named Juan Diego
encountered the Mexico’s patron
Saint.
• La Guadalapana is revered and respected in the same
way mothers are revered and respected by Mexican
men, despite the country’s machista society.
HEALTHCARE
PRACTICES
HEALTH BELIEFS
• For most people, good health is a blessing not usually appreciated until
it is lost. An adequate state of health allows a person to be productive and
provide for the family.
• There is also a certain resistance toward psychological counseling. Many
Hispanics believe that one must be completely disturbed to require such
services and that one must try to help oneself.
• Becoming sick is considered a weakness, intimate thoughts and concerns
are shared only with very close persons
HEALTH BELIEFS
• The concepts of "hot" and "cold" often have an influence on Hispanics. These
concepts assign food and natural agents a hot or cold effect in the human body.
• A sudden change from one group to the other, or an excess or deficiency of
one agent or the other may cause serious disturbances in the body.
HEALTH RISKS
• Often Hispanics have no choice as to where they may seek medical care
because of inadequate roots (no contacts, transient status), misinformation, and
socioeconomic factors.
• Most Hispanics have poor income, overcrowded housing, limited facilities and
services, poor schooling, little contact with professionals, and inadequate role
models.
EMPACHO
• A form of stomach upset which is
believed to be caused by undigested
food getting stuck to the walls of the
stomach or intestines causing an
obstruction.
• It is thought to result of dietary
practices including excessive eating,
not chewing food completely,
consuming spoiled foods, eating at the
wrong time of day, or combining the
wrong foods.
• Treatment includes dietary
restrictions, herbal teas, abdominal
massage with warm oil, and pinching
the skin on the back and pulling it
until it pops.
SUSTO
• A “fright sickness” is caused by a
frightening or traumatic experience
that temporarily scares a person’s
spirit from their body.
• Culturally stressed adults (women
more often than men) are most likely
to suffer from susto, although children
may also be afflicted.
• The treatment includes herbal teas,
covering the face with a cloth and
sprinkling holy water, and spitting a
mouthful of water or alcohol into the
patient’s face unexpectedly, and
cleansing ceremonies called limpieza
performed by spiritual healers called
curanderos.
MAL DE OJO
• Translates into evil eye and is caused by a person
with a “strong eye” who admires a child without
touching them.
• The illness is believed to occur because a spell
has been placed on the child by a person who
secretly admires and covets him or her.
• The strong eyes are believed to “heat up” the
child’s blood, resulting in symptoms such as fever,
inconsolable crying, diarrhea, vomiting, aches and
pains and a gassy stomach.
• Parents place an amulet on infants, known as
azabache, which is worn on a necklace or
bracelet and is believed to protect against mal
ojo.
MOLLERA CAIDA
• Translates as sunken fontanel and
is believed to be caused by pulling
a baby away from the breast or
bottle too quickly, having the baby
fall to the ground or carrying the
baby incorrectly.
• Treatments include pushing on the
baby’s palate with a finger, holding
the baby upside down over a pan
of water and slapping the bottoms
of his feet, or applying a poultice
to the fontanel.
HEALTHCARE
P RACTITIONER
CONCEPTS
CURANDERO
• Some Hispanic persons believe
that there are some diseases
that can only be handled by the
healer called “curandero” in
certain specific rituals.
• A curandero believes that
physicians and their medicines
would only do further harm to
the spells, fright, or the evil eye
they believes that’s causing a
disease.
• The health worker may approach the patient by asking whether it would be
appropriate to follow a proposed management.
• Because “hot” and “cold” food and agents often have an influence on Hispanics,
questions may arise. For instance, giving ice to a child with a fever or even
about eating hot pepper or fish after surgery, bathing following deliver and so
on.
• When the patient is reluctant to follow advice adequate and more acceptable
alternatives may be offered.
• Also health workers should work on gently convincing patients to change
unscientific attitudes.
• Among Hispanic families, the father/husband
usually makes final decisions, including those
about health matters. As with other patients,
the family must be involved in the decision
making in order to improve patients'
compliance.
• Younger family members will pay more
attention to their mother's and father's
advice than the physician’s.
• Early involvement of the father/husband
during education and counseling will improve
health workers' efforts.
• The presentation of alternatives for treatment, although required
by law and common sense, may be considered evidence of
weakness by Hispanic patients, as well as an indication of a
physician's poor knowledge and poor performance.
• Providing medical care for them has many advantages. Among the
advantages noted in treating Hispanics are their respectfulness,
their expressions of gratitude (by acknowledgment or gifts), and
their pride in paying their fees.
REFERENCES
• Poma, P. A. (1983). Hispanic cultural influences on medical practice. Journal of the National Medical
Association, 75(10), 941.
• Food and Culture By Pamela Goyan Kittler, Kathryn P. Sucher
• AIDS Prevention Among Hispanics: Needs, Risk Behaviors, and Cultural Values GERARDO MARIN,
PhD (1989)
• Marín, B. V. (2003). HIV Prevention in the Hispanic Community: Sex, Culture, and Empowerment.
Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 14(3), 186–192. doi:10.1177/1043659603014003005
• Schwartz, S. J., Mason, C. A., Pantin, H., Wei Wang, Hendricks Brown, C., Campo, A. E., & Szapocznik, J.
(2008). Relationships of Social Context and Identity to Problem Behavior Among High-Risk Hispanic
Adolescents.Youth & Society, 40(4), 541–570. doi:10.1177/0044118x08327506
• Carteret, M., & Ed, M. (n.d.). Folk Illnesses and Remedies in Latino Communities. Retrieved from
https://www.dimensionsofculture.com/2010/10/folk-illnesses-and-remedies-in-latino-communities/
REFERENCES
• Diverse Hispanic Workforce More Likely to Face Challenges, Report Finds. (2016, November
01). Retrieved from http://ctbythenumbers.info/2016/11/01/diverse-hispanic-workforce-more-
likely-to-face-challenges-report-finds/
• Redmond, J. (n.d.). Hispanic Culture of Death and Dying. Retrieved from
https://dying.lovetoknow.com/death-cultures-around-world/hispanic-culture-death-dying
