Journal of Genetic Counseling
Volume 27, Issue 4, 2018, Pages 996-1004

Identifying and Addressing Genetic Counseling Challenges among Indigenous People of Oaxaca—One Center’s Experience with Two Immigrant Farmworker Families in the Central Valley of California (Article) (Open Access)

Shen J.J.* , Carmichael J. , Vásquez Santos L.
  • a Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco – Fresno, 290 N. Wayte Lane, Fresno, CA 93701, United States, Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Valley Children’s Hospital, Madera, CA, United States
  • b Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Valley Children’s Hospital, Madera, CA, United States
  • c Binational Center for the Development of Oaxacan Indigenous Communities, Fresno, CA, United States

Abstract

An important aspect of genetic counseling is the recognition of and adaptation to the socio-cultural uniqueness of the different populations that a genetics clinic serves. The Central Valley of California is home to a large population from Mexico, with a significant proportion of indigenous ancestry originating from the state of Oaxaca. We report on our experience with two families of this community—one extended family with an early lethal inborn error of metabolism and the other with a chronic disfiguring form of ichthyosis. We identified multiple important factors that needed to be considered, including the matching of language dialects, adaptation to different social interaction conventions, acknowledgement of traditional medicine beliefs, and effective transmission of genetic terms and concepts, all of which should be incorporated into the interactions with these families when aiming to provide comprehensive genetic counseling. © 2018, The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Traditional medicine beliefs Mixtecos Genetic counseling Immigrant population Indigenous languages Multicultural genetic counseling Indigenous community Underserved population Indigenous ancestry Mixtec people Oaxaca, Mexico

Index Keywords

California Emigrants and Immigrants case report female genetic counseling Farmers Mexico agricultural worker Young Adult human Humans migrant
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85049740915&doi=10.1007%2fs10897-018-0221-0&partnerID=40&md5=9cd1d1a19a548f7a43580fb53f536a54
DOI: 10.1007/s10897-018-0221-0
ISSN: 10597700
Original Language: English