Am J Med Sci. 1993 Sep; 306(3): 160-6.

Cultural issues in serving minority populations: emphasis on Mexican Americans and African Americans.

Fishman BM, Bobo L, Kosub K, Womeodu RJ.

Department of Medicine/General Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 78284-7879.

Patients' cultural beliefs may affect acceptance of health care, compliance, and treatment outcomes. This article discusses cultural views of health and illness, folk beliefs and customs, cultural barriers to care, and alternative health-care systems, with particular emphasis on Mexican Americans and African Americans, including curanderismo, rootwork, and voodoo. Physicians who wish to provide appropriate and acceptable care in a cross-cultural setting should integrate these beliefs with conventional medicine.