Pediatr Nurs. 1997 May-Jun; 23(3): 247-51.

Hmong healing practices used for common childhood illnesses.

Nuttall P, Flores FC.

California State University, Fresno, USA.

Central California has become a place of refuge and settlement for Southeast Asian Hmong immigrants over the past 20 years. The resulting assimilation of this new cultural group into American society has produced the need for multi-ethnic understanding and culturally sensitive health care interventions. Knowledge regarding the health care practices of Hmong parents provides the foundation for this understanding and an integrated and meaningful model of child care. This study of Hmong parents describes (a) their indigenous healing practices, (b) the purposes of these health care practices, (c) their beliefs about western medical care, and (d) their views on seeking western pediatric health care. A one-group descriptive design was used. Interview data from Hmong parents (N = 21) describes illness causation, healing rituals, herbal remedies, and other health care traditions.