Return-Path: <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id h8CDVH729994; Fri, 12 Sep 2003 09:31:18 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 09:31:18 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <20030912132643.54531.qmail@web11202.mail.yahoo.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Bertha Mo <bertiemo@yahoo.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:4106] Re: NIFL-HEALTH digest 1505 X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Status: O Content-Length: 4633 Lines: 149 Your list is very interesting because it lists idiomatic phrases used by people to talk about health and illness. Much translated health education material is not useful either because it is a direct translation from English which uses unfamilar terminology or is "upper class/literate" terminology from that country/culture. Remember the flack in the US, when health education materials targeting men who had sex with men used idiomatic terminology? Yes, some home remedies are dangereous and you should probably add a disclaimer saying that you are not recommending that people try remedies on the list...However, I wouldn't summarily dismiss them all. Curanderas serve functions that aren't solely curative, but have other therapeutic value. Complementary practitioners have their own place in a health care system...Have a look at the discussion on the role of local healers in HIV/AIDS care and support. Bertie Mo, Ph.D., MPH Medical Anthropologist --- nifl-health@nifl.gov wrote: > NIFL-HEALTH Digest 1505 > > Topics covered in this issue include: > > 1) home/remedies/cultural/beliefs > by james phillips <jphilip@tenet.edu> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2003 16:39:21 -0500 > From: james phillips <jphilip@tenet.edu> > To: NIFL-HEALTH@literacy.nifl.gov > Subject: home/remedies/cultural/beliefs > Message-ID: <3F60EB89.3A5D1D5A@tenet.edu> > > You may have seen my web page “El Consultorio” at > http://www.stcc.cc.tx.us/library/guides/elconsultorio.htm > or at the old > URL and wondered ‘what’s that for or who needs that > list, there’s no > links or what was ol’ Jimbo thinking when he made > that list public.’ > > I collected many words and expressions from > interviews of folks residing > in this region and northeastern Mexico. But, they > heard and used across > Mexico. The list wasn’t really intended for medical > librarians. It’s > more for translators and students of the Spanish > language who take an > occupational Spanish course, like medical Spanish. > > The expression I used as an example to get folks to > feel free talking to > me was ‘sangre de chango.’ Literally, it means > ‘monkey blood’. But, > it’s used to refer to ‘iodine.’ Surprisingly, the > collection turned out > to be mostly home remedies and cultural beliefs. > There’s even Mexican > Indian words. They’re not slang or archaisms or > made-up words. > > Every week I receive criticisms of the list. > Translators write and say > that’s not the definition they know when challenging > a definition. > Medical librarians write and mention that some of > those seem dangerous > to suggest someone try. But, they miss the point. > They’re not for > someone to try instead of visiting a clinic or > physician. A Spanish high > school teacher, who uses the list, wrote last year > and stated that he > was the local hospital volunteer translator. But, > he stated that he > realized that he was not a trained medical Spanish > translator and > encountered many translating difficulties My > sister-in-law told me that > those words and expressions were what poor people > say and use. Sure > they are!. Everybody here knows that. If poor > people had access to > health care and were health literate, they wouldn’t > resort to these > remedies. Or visit they local curandero. > > 40% of the migrants and 40% of the farmworkers of > Texas live in the > county, Hidalgo, where I’m at right now as I write. > They spend time > across the country seeking employment. Many use > these home remedies and > cultural beliefs. Medical librarians probably don’t > have them as > patrons. And, neither do most other librarians. > Or, health care > providers. This also true for the international > migrants passing > through here from Central America. They’re called > ‘transmigrantes’ and > many come from the Honduras. There’s the start of > another list of home > remedies and cultural beliefs. > > I’d like to hear from you. Let me know what you > think. > James Phillips, MLS > Librarian > South Texas Community College > Dr. Ramiro R. Casso Nursing and Allied Health Center > 1101 East Vermont > McAllen, Texas 78501 > 956-683-3121 > 956-683-3190 (fax) > www.stcc.cc.tx.us > www.stcc.cc.tx.us/nah > phillips@stcc.cc.tx.us > jphilip@tenet.edu > se habla español > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > End of NIFL-HEALTH Digest 1505 > ****************************** __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
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