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Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 6/2016

01-12-2016 | Original Paper

Diabetes Cultural Beliefs and Traditional Medicine Use Among Health Center Patients in Oaxaca, Mexico

Authors: Rebeca Espinoza Giacinto, Sheila F. Castañeda, Ramona L. Perez, Jesse N. Nodora, Patricia Gonzalez, Emma Julián Lopez, Gregory A. Talavera

Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Issue 6/2016

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Abstract

Type II diabetes mellitus is currently the leading cause of death in Mexico. Oaxaca is one of the poorest states in Mexico with the largest concentration of indigenous people in the country. Despite the alarming increase of diabetes rates in this region, little is known about the indigenous populations’ cultural understandings and related practices for this chronic disease. This study examined diabetes cultural beliefs and traditional medicine use among a sample of 158 adults with and without diabetes in Oaxaca, Mexico. Individuals with and without diabetes did not differ in their traditional culture beliefs regarding diabetes in this study. Younger age (OR = 1.04) and stronger beliefs in punitive and mystical retribution (OR = 5.42) regarding diabetes causality increased the likelihood of using traditional medicine (p < .05). Findings may aid in the development of culturally tailored programs to address diabetes prevention and management efforts in the region.
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Metadata
Title
Diabetes Cultural Beliefs and Traditional Medicine Use Among Health Center Patients in Oaxaca, Mexico
Authors
Rebeca Espinoza Giacinto
Sheila F. Castañeda
Ramona L. Perez
Jesse N. Nodora
Patricia Gonzalez
Emma Julián Lopez
Gregory A. Talavera
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Issue 6/2016
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0323-9

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