Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 20, Issue 5, 2018, Pages 1197-1205

Medical Pluralism in the Use of Sobadores among Mexican Immigrants to North Carolina (Article)

Sandberg J.C.* , Quandt S.A. , Graham A. , Stub T. , Mora D.C. , Arcury T.A.
  • a Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States
  • b Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States
  • c Graham Chiropractic PLLC, 1300 Ashley Square, Winston-Salem, NC 27103, United States
  • d UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Sykehusveien 23, Tromsø, 9037, Norway
  • e Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States
  • f Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States

Abstract

Mexican immigrants have a rich history of traditional healers. This analysis describes the conditions for which Mexican immigrants seek treatment from sobadores, and delineates factors that influence seeking treatment from a sobador or a biomedical doctor. This systematic qualitative analysis uses interview data collected with 24 adult Mexican immigrants to North Carolina who had been treated by a sobador in the previous 2 years. Immigrants are engaged in medical pluralism, seeking care from sobadores and biomedical doctors based on the complaint and patient’s age. Using a hierarchy of resort, adults seek treatment from sobadores for musculoskeletal pain not involving a fracture. Doctors are first consulted when treating children; sobadores are consulted if doctors do not provide culturally appropriate treatment. Mexican immigrants seek care that addresses their culturally determined health concerns. The need to improve access to culturally competent biomedical health care for vulnerable immigrant populations continues. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Author Keywords

minority health Folk medicine Immigrant health health disparities Manual therapy Traditional healer healthcare USA Integrative medicine

Index Keywords

infertility Cultural Diversity human middle aged gastrointestinal disease North Carolina health status Cultural Competency ethnology cultural competence massage qualitative research interview Humans migrant psychology traditional medicine Interviews as Topic male Emigrants and Immigrants Medicine, Traditional Socioeconomic Factors female musculoskeletal pain socioeconomics Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice adult patient attitude Patient Acceptance of Health Care Mexican Americans attitude to health Gastrointestinal Diseases Health Services Accessibility Mexican American health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85030865725&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-017-0660-y&partnerID=40&md5=b448d3b51b837e5ac14085a869744e2f
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-017-0660-y
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English