Care of the Native American Woman: Strategies for Practice, Education, and Research

Abstract

Native Americans, the smallest racial minority in the United States, comprise the fastest growing ethnic group and have a myriad of social and health problems. Women play an important role in health care practices and decision making in this community because many tribes are matrilineal. Practice, education, and research strategies should include identification of beliefs and practices specific to the clan or tribe because there is wide variance in values, lifestyles, and taboos from tribe to tribe. Traditional healers, Native American storytelling, and talking circles can be incorporated into the health care of urban Native American women and their families.

Postoperative Pain Assessment and Analgesic Administration in Native American Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

“…18,21 Nonverbal cues should be assessed, as well as universal indicators of pain such as tachypnea, tachycardia, diaphoresis, pallor, or increasing blood pressure. 22,23 There is evidence that subtle symptoms and the use of descriptive words by Native American patients to describe pain can be used as an indicator for the presence of pain. 22,23 An obvious shortcoming of our study was our small number of exclusively young, female patients.…”

“…22,23 There is evidence that subtle symptoms and the use of descriptive words by Native American patients to describe pain can be used as an indicator for the presence of pain. 22,23 An obvious shortcoming of our study was our small number of exclusively young, female patients. Important factors we did not control for were the environment in which our patients were raised (eg, reservation vs city) and the fraction of Native American heritage.…”

Trust and world view in shared decision making with indigenous patients: A realist synthesis

“…People with indigenous world view may perceive time as relational and non-linear, 45,[55][56][57] which could in part contribute to patients not meeting appointments or following pharmaceutical schedules.…”

Conceptualizing Native Identity with a Multidimensional Model

“…Strong cultural identifi cation has been shown to be protective against substance use among other populations, as well as AIs (Castro et al, 2007;Szlemko et al, 2006). AIs have unique traditions that view pregnancy and childbearing as spiritually sacred (Cesario, 2001). The participating tribes have special cultural practices during pregnancy to honor and protect the growing child spirit, such as avoiding negative thoughts or foreign foods or smells.…”