Running Head: CULTURAL COMPETENCY PAPER: ANALYSIS OF TRINIDADIAN HEALTH

Cultural Competency Paper: Analysis of Trinidadian Health beliefs and practices

Narjess Yazback
University Of South Florida

Running Head: CULTURAL COMPETENCY PAPER: ANALYSIS OF TRINIDADIAN HEALTH

Cultural Competency Paper: Analysis of Trinidadian Health Beliefs

Culture plays a key part in determining a patients own health practices, and willingness
to accept healthcare (Transcultural Nursing, 2012). A brief overview of Trinidadian culture,
traditions and health beliefs according to one natives experience will be examined then
compared to written literature on general health beliefs and practices of that culture. A health
case scenario will then be discussed along with methods of interventions using Leningers theory
of Transcultural Nursing Care, with an emphasis on the necessity for patient autonomy, and
cultural competency of the nurse.
This interview was conducted on a twenty-six year old male living in the United States,
but originally born and raised in an island of the Caribbean called Trinidad. For the purposes of
maintaining the interviewees confidentiality, he will be called John. During this interview, John
explained that although he is not opposed to seeking professional healthcare, it comes as a last
resort. He continued on to say that he would first consider home remedies, immune system
boosters and prayer. When asked What are some cultural practices that keep you from getting
sick? According to John, when he was between the ages of six to thirteen, it was the norm to
have yearly cleanses at the end of summer by drinking a tea made from boiled senna pods. John
explained that this tea was used to purge the system by inducing more frequent bowel
movements. John also pointed out that many people have fruit trees, edible roots, vegetables and
seasonings growing in their backyards; this greatly reduces the amount of preservatives and
processed food they consume. Exercising is also a common aspect of daily living in his
community. John mentioned another practice that is prevalent in Trinidad called a Bush bath;
it is used to prevent and cure illnesses. Although, John has never used it, he explained that it is a
form of herbal medicine tied to Obeah practice. Obeah practice is believed to include spiritual

Running Head: CULTURAL COMPETENCY PAPER: ANALYSIS OF TRINIDADIAN HEALTH

forces, knowledge of herbal medicine and supernatural powers; it can be used for good or bad
purposes such as healing the sick, or as a method of vengeance (Bilby & Handler, 2004). John
stated that his family rarely got sick, and therefore healthcare visits were rarely made unless a
physical was required for work purposes or an injury occurred. Lastly, John described some of
his favorite cultural meals. He named two native dishes: callaloo which consists of the leaves
of a dasheen plant cooked with coconut milk among other seasonings, and oil down which is
made with a variety of vegetables, meats (optional) and seasonings boiled in coconut milk. He
believes that the cultural meals he consumes have a positive effect on his overall health since
many of the ingredients are healthy and organic (John, Personal Communication, May 19, 2014).
In comparing literature on Trinidadian health practices with the interviewees personal
experiences, they seemed to mostly support each other. According to George and Glasgow
(1999), many Trinidadians believe that nature provides everything that is needed for ones body
to function with optimum health including nutritional and healing elements. In support of that
statement, Mc Neal (2012) comments on the rise of biomedicine and its endless effort to
dominate traditional medicine and render it as useless and primitive. However, these traditional
practices have continued to thrive because of their positive health outcomes. Along the same
lines, Bowla (2012) discusses how simple remedies that were known by traditional healers in
Trinidad are now packaged and sold in pharmacies. Some traditional remedies might yield
similar or even better results than biomedicine. In general, the written literature emphasizes the
importance of traditional remedies in the Trinidadian culture.
In applying the knowledge of how cultural differences can affect health practices, a case
scenario was produced in which the interviewee is hospitalized with complications from newly
diagnosed diabetes. In order to achieve the best patient care, the nurse needs to be culturally

Running Head: CULTURAL COMPETENCY PAPER: ANALYSIS OF TRINIDADIAN HEALTH

competent. This means respecting the patients cultural beliefs and carefully asking questions to
understand the patients perspective (Transcultural Nursing, 2012). According to Malina (as
cited by Anderson and McFarlane, 2011), Cultural competence implies an awareness of
sensitivity to and knowledge of the meaning of culture and its role in shaping human behavior
(p.112). In being culturally competent, one should respect the patients autonomy, and allow
them to make their own decisions based on their beliefs; however, as nurses we must also display
beneficence by promoting patient welfare and protecting them from harm (Guido, 2014).
This is where Leningers theories of preservation and accommodation/negotiation can be
utilized (Sagar, 2012). In this scenario, the theory of preservation would be used by encouraging
the patient to continue the daily exercise that they do in the community. Before referring to the
second theory, an assessment of patient understanding of their diabetic condition and what they
believe helps with the illness should be done, followed by determining if non-compliance based
on cultural beliefs is affecting their situation. An explanation of any missing knowledge would
then be provided. Furthermore, a possible negotiation would be to accommodate the patients
own cultural beliefs alongside our practices by explaining that although reducing the amount of
sugar consumed, exercising often, and praying may help with this condition, adhering to insulin
doses as prescribed will further decrease the high sugar levels in the body and prevent
complications. Allowing the patient to maintain their beliefs, while introducing new ones to
them, can lead to more flexibility and better health outcomes.
Culture and beliefs have a huge impact on ones health practices and behaviors. In order
for the nurse to have an influential hand in providing care and helping patients with different
cultures and backgrounds, he/she must carefully assess the patients initial views, and respect
them before introducing new ones using Leningers theories. This assignment provided me with

Running Head: CULTURAL COMPETENCY PAPER: ANALYSIS OF TRINIDADIAN HEALTH

a clarified understanding of the relationship between culture and health, and will help me offer
individualized care to every patient I have the opportunity to work with in the future.

Running Head: CULTURAL COMPETENCY PAPER: ANALYSIS OF TRINIDADIAN HEALTH

References
Anderson, E.T., & McFarlane, J. (2011). Community as Partner: Theory and Practice in
Nursing. (6th. ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Bowla, V. (2012). [Review of the book Traditional Medicine and Women Healers in Trinidad].
Retrieved from http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/headline-Book-Review%3ATraditional-Medicine-and-Women-Healers-in-Trinidad%3A-Postnatal-Health-Care10770.html
George, G., Glasgow, J. (1999). The boundaries Between Caribbean Beliefs and Practices and
Conventional Science. Education for all in the Caribbean: Assessment 2000 Monograph
Series. Retrieved from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001364/136429e.pdf
Guido, G.W. (2014). Legal and ethical issues in nursing (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson
Kenneth, M.B., & Handler, S.J. (2004). Obeah: Healing and Protection in West Indian Slave
Life. The journal of Caribbean History, 38, 153-183
McNeal, K. (2012). [Review of the book Traditional Medicine and Women Healers in Trinidad].
Retrieved from http://news.co.tt/public_html/article.php?story=2012041622552575
Sagar, P. (2012). Transcultural Nursing Theory and Models: Application in Nursing Education,
Practice and Administration. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
Transcultural Nursing: Cultural Competence. (2012). Retrieved from
http://www.culturediversity.org/cultcomp.htm