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Essay / The Importance of Hmong Culture - 1026
Hmong culture is firmly rooted in its spiritual belief in animism, ancestral worship and reincarnation. These beliefs connect them to their sense of health and well-being. They view illness as having a natural or spiritual cause. A spiritual cause results in “loss of souls” or is an action or wrongdoing that may have offended the spirit of an ancestor (California Department of Health Services, 2004, Purnell, 2013, p. 317). The soul escapes the body and may not be able to find its way back home. The Hmong also believe that a combination of natural and supernatural causes results in illness, and that spells or curses, violation of taboos, accidents, fear, and infectious diseases are other causes of illness (Centers for Disease Control , as our textbook states: “Communication includes the willingness of individuals to share their thoughts and feelings” (Purnell, 2103, p. 21). they believe that Americans are rude because direct eye contact is maintained when present conversing, as well as asking direct questions for education to be successful about the risks of cupping or needlesticks. , it is important to know that when speaking to a person of Hmong culture, one should use quick glances without starting and start a light conversation before asking questions regarding their beliefs, health, etc. The Purnell Model of Cultural Competence states that the area of high-risk behaviors is an area in which healthcare providers can have a significant impact on a patient's health status (Purnell, 2013, p. 30) . In these circumstances, as well as other obstacles that could potentially be encountered due to the very different cultural aspects, it would be best to provide advice to parents via individual or family counseling techniques. From what I have learned so far from our readings, spirituality plays a very important role in the health and well-being of a culture. Knowing the beliefs relevant to the culture you are treating allows you, as a provider, to better help them achieve better health and well-being. Trust is also paramount and it is very clear that interfering with a person's spirituality could possibly hinder their physical healing and even cause physical disorders.