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Abstract: The issue of how immigrant populations combine traditional and Western health beliefs and practices has not been given due attention. Hence, this qualitative research study of Yoruba immigrants, an ethnic group from south-western Nigeria, living in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, sheds some light on the question of how best to provide culturally appropriate health care to Yoruba immigrant groups with differences in health beliefs and practices. The study found that there are three types of Yoruba immigrant groups: (1) those who use only Western medicine (though mostly for pragmatic reason); (2) those who combine traditional Yoruba and Western beliefs; and (3) those who combine Western medicine and Christian beliefs.
Key Words: Health Beliefs, Health Practices, Yoruba
The research on cultural care has proven that there should be an understanding and awareness of the world of clients in order to design and implement culturally competent care to people of different or similar cultures. The goal of ith, and family, or culture group healthy ipposed to be beneficial, fit with, and be fient, family, or culture group healthy fife ways (Leininger, 1991). In the case of the Yoruba, i care is sui useful to the c a cultural group from south-western Nigeria, there has been lamentations about the lack of health services and health care providers sympathetic to their way of life. As a matter of fact, lack of choice in access to health care, cultural barriers due to difference in language, and differences in conceptualizations of health and illness have led to misunderstandings and suspicions on both sides. Such situations have also led to inadequate health care, delay in seeking health care and negative health outcomes (Louie, 1998, and Winn, 1987).
As the United States becomes more ethnically diverse and multicultural, it becomes imperative to initiate the concept of culturally sensitive care for immigrant populations into the health care delivery system. One such immigrant population is the Yoruba from south-western Nigeria. A study was conducted to explore the health beliefs and practices of this cultural group in the presence of such barriers as differences in language, misconceptions and misunderstandings. The study was conducted among a concentration of Yoruba immigrants living in two metropolitan cities in the mid-Atlantic region of the United...