Cross-Cultural Health Perspectives

 

 

 

Student’s Name

University

Course

Professor

Date

 

Cross-Cultural Health Perspectives

Health, Culture, and Identity

There has been a developing awareness among most healthcare providers on the issue of culture and the need for healthcare providers to develop the appropriate skills necessary to respond to the diverse health needs of society. Clients’ cultural backgrounds and demographic changes have become a concern in healthcare provision today since practitioners interact with clients with whom they do not share the same cultural perspectives and assumptions on matters related to diseases and health (Falicov et al., 2020). In many cases, healthcare providers have minimal knowledge of a client’s beliefs on health experience and how to manage illnesses. This essay will explore the case of Lanesha Johnson, look at her grandmother as the primary caregiver, look at how Lanesha and the family approach the situation from different perspectives, look at the effect of Lanesha’s temperament on the situation and finally look at responsibilities of healthcare on Lanesha’s situation.

Lanesha’s Grandmother, as Primary Caregiver

It is not unusual for Lanesha’s grandmother Marietta to be the primary caregiver for Lanesha. Culturally, grandMothers take care of their grandchildren not only in African-Americans but also in other communities they do take care of their grandchildren. A critical proportion of African-American children, represented by 12%, live with their grandparents, and 3.6% and 5.8% of Caucasian and Latino children, respectively, live with their grandparents (Wang et al., 2021), and it is believed to have a heartfelt influence, and despite the situation, there is a requirement for the family to be together. Factors contributing to children living with their grandmothers include the death of their parents and neglect (Gordon, 2018). When a parent gets jailed or has a mental disorder, the grandparent takes care of the children and this can also be seen in cases where a parent gets involved in drug abuse and can no longer take care of the child, Grandparents have a crucial role in the life of their grandchildren, and they deserve the best out of the best.

Ways in which Lanesha, Grandma Marietta, and Hannah Healthcare Approach the Situation

Lanesha, Grandma, and the healthcare group Hannah approach the case differently. Lanesha, a young girl at the age of 12 years, has persistent asthma and temper in her life, according to the information provided above. This condition interferes not only with her school attendance but also with medication adherence. She is not bothered as she appeared in the clinic with empty medicine complaining that her grandmother was responsible for refilling them. This indicates that she has adolescent issues influencing her emotions as she feels neglected, and her grandparent is not concerned about the issue. On the other hand, Marietta claims that it is the responsibility of Lanesha to ensure that medicines are refilled because Medicaid has already catered for the cost. Aging individuals strive to cope with stress, especially when caring for their grandchildren (Heid et al., 2021). Marietta has tried to help Lanesha, but she is also stressed due to other family obligations of caring for her 10-year-old grandson and aging mother. Marietta portrays the qualities described in the information as she cannot help Lanesha much due to her age and worries about the granddaughters’ future. Marietta almost gives up and allows Lanesha to make her own decisions regarding medication adherence due to Lanesha’s behavior likely associated with her age, where she also feels unappreciated for all she has done for the welfare of her granddaughter. The healthcare representative is also concerned about the young girl’s non-adherence to the treatment. It is clear from the health provider that since Lanesha is an adolescent, it would be hard for Marietta to refill the medicine and remind her to adhere to medication.

Lanesha’s Temperament Effects on the Situation

Lanesha’s temperament negatively impacts her taking medicine as directed. Despite being an adolescent, she is rebellious and wishes to make her own decisions, notwithstanding their effects on her health. She ignores her grandparent’s advice when reminded to take medications and does what she thinks is right. This behavior hinders Marietta from being much concerned about the one with a health problem and concludes that if her granddaughter does not have breathing problems, it is up to her to decide what she wants.

Responsibilities of Healthcare Providers in the Situation

In the situation of Lanesha, healthcare providers got a variety of responsibilities. The first responsibility is that they should understand the family’s background and problem, listen with compassion, and demonstrate genuine concern to offer help. Healthcare providers are also responsible for problem-solving with the family, as Lanesha does not obey her grandparent’s directions. Healthcare providers can also seek the help of a close relative, such as an uncle or aunt, to talk to the girl to adhere to medications (Das et al., 2018). Healthcare providers are also responsible for educating Lanesha on the importance of taking medication as instructed and failure to which can harm one’s health. It is essential to refer the family to a counselor if needed.

Conclusion

There has been a developing awareness among most healthcare providers on the issue of culture and the need for healthcare providers to develop the appropriate skills necessary to respond to the diverse health needs of society. It is not unusual for Lanesha’s grandmother Marietta to be the primary caregiver for Lanesha, and culturally, grandMothers take care of their grandchildren not only in African-Americans but also in other communities they do take care of their grandchildren. Lanesha, Grandma, and the healthcare group Hannah approach the case differently as Lanesha is seen not to be bothered by anything, even her health, but for the grandparent, the situation is different as they are seen to be stressed by the condition of their grandchild. Healthcare providers are responsible for ensuring that Lanesha does what is required for her but not what she thinks is right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Das, M., Angeli, F., Krumeich, A. J., & Van Schayck, O. C. (2018). The gendered experience with respect to health-seeking behaviour in an urban slum of Kolkata, India. International journal for equity in health, 17(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-018-0738-8

Falicov, C., Niño, A., & D’Urso, S. (2020). Expanding possibilities: Flexibility and solidarity with under‐resourced immigrant families during the covid‐19 pandemic. Family Process, 59(3), 865-882. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12578

Gordon, L. (2018). ‘My daughter is a drug addict’: grandparents caring for the children of addicted parents. Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 13(1), 39-54. https://doi.org/10.1080/1177083X.2017.1413664

Heid, A. R., Cartwright, F., Wilson-Genderson, M., & Pruchno, R. (2021). Challenges experienced by older people during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gerontologist, 61(1), 48-58. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaa138

Wang, S. D., Devjani, S., Chillakanti, M., Dunton, G. F., & Mason, T. B. (2021). The COMET study: Examining the effects of COVID-19-related perceived stress on Los Angeles Mothers’ dysregulated eating behaviors, child feeding practices, and body mass index. Appetite, 163, 105209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2021.105209

If you are having challenges with writing your nursing essay either because of lack of time or not knowing where to start, you can order your paper here