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Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 5/2017

01-10-2017 | Original Paper

Mexican Sobadores in North Carolina: Manual Therapy in a New Settlement Context

Authors: Sara A. Quandt, Joanne C. Sandberg, Alan Graham, Dana C. Mora, Trine Stub, Thomas A. Arcury

Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Issue 5/2017

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Abstract

Latino immigrants to the New Settlement area of the southeastern United States face structural and cultural obstacles to accessing the conventional health care system, and come from areas with long traditions of medical treatments from healers without professional training or licensure. Little is known about the use of such healers in New Settlement areas. This study focuses on sobadores, healers who use manipulative therapy. Goals were to describe sobadores practicing in North Carolina, including their background, conditions treated, and their understanding of the pathophysiology of their patients’ conditions and how their treatments work. The paper also describes who sobadores treat and sobadores’ understanding of where their treatment fits into patients’ pursuit of relief from symptoms. This focused ethnography draws from in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with six sobadores from Mexico practicing in North Carolina. These sobadores appear to meet both structural and cultural needs for healthcare in the immigrant Latino population.
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Metadata
Title
Mexican Sobadores in North Carolina: Manual Therapy in a New Settlement Context
Authors
Sara A. Quandt
Joanne C. Sandberg
Alan Graham
Dana C. Mora
Trine Stub
Thomas A. Arcury
Publication date
01-10-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Issue 5/2017
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0466-3

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