Workplace Health Promotion—Strategies for Low-Income Hispanic Immigrant Women

Abstract

Addressing health disparities for vulnerable populations in the United States is a national goal. Immigrant Hispanic women, at increased risk for heart disease, face obstacles in receiving adequate health care. Health promotion, especially for Hispanic women, is hindered by language, access to care, lack of insurance, and cultural factors. Innovative health education approaches are needed to reach this population. This article describes the development and evaluation of a culturally sensitive cardiac health education program based on findings from a study of 21 older immigrant Hispanic women employed as housekeepers at a small university in south Texas. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures had decreased 17 months after the intervention.

Salud Sí

“…Mexican American women may not have sufficient access to information about the importance of nutrition and physical activity for their health. [7][8][9] Strategies employed to increase the cultural relevance of these programs include the use of the community health worker, or promotora, model, 10 bilingual staff, and culturally adapted materials. 6 Several studies indicate that health promotion programs targeting Latina or Mexican American women effectively mediate lack of general health information and have a positive effect on nutrition and physical activity behaviors.…”

The Role of Certified Foot and Nail Care Nurses in the Prevention of Lower Extremity Amputation

“…35 For example, ZarateAbbott and colleagues 35 work primarily with Hispanic elders and have integrated the relationship concepts of personalismo (a relationship that develops from formal to personal through repeated contact), respeto (communication in the third person and assurance of privacy), and dignidad (recommendations for realistic, cost-effective interventions). This strategy increased receptiveness to the information provided.…”

Mitigation of transcultural clinical barriers in a health and wellness program: A transcultural caring approach for vulnerable migrant backstretch workers

“…Additionally, this critical support would function as a strategy to increase the number of weekly client encounters at the backstretch clinic for emergent issues, and improve client compliance in keeping scheduled follow-up appointments for abnormal screenings and medication compliance checks. [5,27,28] …”

“…[28] Developing and implementing a health and wellness program for migrant backstretch workers is a daunting proposition for university faculty as they develop and revise baccalaureate and graduate nursing curricula to better address the unique health issues and cultural differences of marginalized individuals. Barriers impeding quality care include access, cultural disparities, social isolation, language and communication difficulties, underinsured or uninsured status, dissimilar perspectives of illness and treatment, negative viewpoints among staff and clients, and access to previous medical records.…”

“…[26] Moreover, providing clients with health information that is both culturally competent and congruent, while focusing on their educational levels and language requirements, is a significant factor for optimum delivery of meaningful health programs for workers. [5,28] Improving the health-seeking behaviors of workers through implementation of culturally sensitive health programs serves as a viable strategy to improve the general health status of migrant clients by establishing a relationship of trust between clinicians and clients. Additionally, this critical support would function as a strategy to increase the number of weekly client encounters at the backstretch clinic for emergent issues, and improve client compliance in keeping scheduled follow-up appointments for abnormal screenings and medication compliance checks.…”