P0671 - Cultural Health Beliefs Among Hispanic/Latino Parents

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE
Parents’ cultural health beliefs and practices affect pediatric care but may not be discussed during medical visits nor well understood by providers. Because culture is dynamic, updated descriptions of beliefs and practices are important for providers who serve culturally diverse families. This study sought to describe current cultural health beliefs and practices among Hispanic/Latino parents and their attitudes toward discussing such topics with healthcare providers.

METHODS
Caregivers who identified their child as Hispanic or Latino in a pediatric primary care clinic were surveyed about demographics, folk illness beliefs, cultural remedy use, and their relationship with their child’s healthcare provider. The survey was offered in Spanish and English.

RESULTS
200 participants were surveyed (mean age 32.8 yrs, 89% female). 58% of respondents were born in Mexico, 17% in the US, and 26% in other Latin American countries. 76% spoke exclusively or primarily Spanish, and 20% spoke exclusively or primarily English. 84% of respondents believed in one or more folk illness. The most common were cólico (74%), empacho (63%), mal de ojo (49%), and caída de mollera (48%). The odds of endorsing one or more folk illness belief among foreign-born participants was 5.0 (95% CI 2.1,12.0, P <0.0001) times that of those born in US. 83% of respondents had used at least one cultural remedy for their children, the most frequent being medicinal teas (53%), oils/ointments (39%), and massage (33%). 20% endorsed having taken their children to a community healer other than a physician or nurse. Among those who used remedies or healers, 15% had discussed these practices with their child’s healthcare provider. 86% of all respondents said they would feel comfortable doing so. No demographic predictors were found to be associated with the use of cultural remedies or healers nor with level of comfort talking to providers.

CONCLUSION
Folk illness beliefs and use of cultural remedies are prevalent and varied in the Hispanic/Latino community and cannot be reliably predicted based on demographics. There is a significant gap in the parent-physician relationship surrounding these issues, despite the fact that parents are willing to discuss them. Providers should not make assumptions about beliefs based on demographic factors but should be aware of common beliefs and practices in the cultures they encounter and routinely ask families about them. The data collected in this study will be used to create relevant, up-to-date training materials for learners and providers.