MA and Curanderas

Closing out the last blog, it was noted how education is a powerful and much needed tool in combating the negative affects of cumulative disadvantage. One aspect where education may have the greatest influence may be in educating MA about their option for treatment and how some options may be more beneficial than others. With so many going uninsured in the United States, a report found that Mexican Americans “…report fewer health care visits, are less likely to have a usual source of care, and more often receive care in Mexico”. (Angel, and Angel 1264-1271 ) This is of particular importance within the MA community since some MA still seek treatment from people like curanderas, or healers that rely on herbs, foods, massages, and religious objects to help cure the sick. (Stoller and Gibson 281) More often than not these healers have no background in medicine and may be preying on the elderly rather than helping them as many charge for their services, and like any business, would appreciate a constant customer base. This may lead curanderas to discouraging traditional medicine that may be more beneficial to someone suffering from illnesses like diabetes that, in most cases, can be treated with nutritional education and subsequent modification, and insulin injections; ideas and treatments of which a curandera may not be familiar with or willing to consider as it may drive away paying client. Those susceptible to accepting treatment that may not help or cure their under lying condition may be the under/uninsured who look to alternative treatment since they can’t afford traditional treatment. In the MA community elderly Mexican Americans have the highest percentage of uninsured at 33 to 40%. (Ruiz)

Angel, Ronald J., and Jacqueline L. Angel, et. al."Stability and Change in Health Insurance Among Older Mexican Americans: Longitudinal Evidence From the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly." American Journal of Public Health. 92.8 (2002): 1264-1271 . Print.

Ruiz, P. 1993. “Access to Health Care for Uninsured Hispanics: Policy Recommendations.” Hospital and Community Psychiatry 44, np. 10 (October): 958-62.

Stoller, Eleanor Palo, and Rose Campbell Gibson. Worlds Of Difference. 3. Thousand

Oaks: Pine Forge Press, 2000. 127-281. Print.