What is Culture?
Within a culture, the members of that society have set rules or standards that they look at as acceptable norms (Skolnik, 2016). According to Treas, they are socially transmitted behavior patterns, beliefs, values, arts, customs, and lifeways that guide peoples' worldview and decision making (2018). You may be wondering how culture affects one's health. Culture and health actually have a direct link to one another. Culture can affect health in a variety of ways. Three common barriers between culture and health are communication, space, and time orientation (Treas, 2018). Some cultures find it disrespectful to look them into their eyes when you talk to them (Treas, 2018). You have to know what nonverbal and verbal communication is acceptable within that culture.
There could also be a language barrier between you and the patient that may require the nurse to request a professional translator. In terms of space, there is a culture that finds it disrespectful to touch their heads or feet. Germans actually find one looking into the room as a sign of disrespect (Treas, 2018). One's cultural approach is directly linked to health because different cultures prefer different treatment options. Some cultures are against medications that have anything to do with animals. Some cultures believe in home remedies, herbs, acupuncture, magic rituals, chanting, and prayer as a way to heal from disease. Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept blood transfusions (Treas, 2018). Some cultures don't believe in abortions. All of these ideas are ways culture influences health. Liberians look at death and dying as an extension of life. It is a process that brings great sorrow. When the time comes, they take great care of the deceased. They believe if they do not it will bring great misfortune to their family (Goldade, 2018)
Gender Norms in Liberia and Cultural Practices
In Liberia, men are the head of the household (Nilsson, 2019). They are the primary decisionmakers and the breadwinners of the family (Nilsson, 2019). They have the right to use violence and to control everything (Nilsson, 2019). Liberian women are supposed to be submissive (Nilsson, 2019). They have domestic responsibilities and are in charge of taking care of the family (Nilsson, 2019). It was extremely hard to find a cultural practice for Liberia, so my citations are really dated. Upon my research, I found out Liberia participates in ritualistic killings (Pike, 2013). These ritualistic killings result in the removal of a body part (Pike, 2013). Those body parts range from heart, liver, and genitals just to name a few (Pike, 2013). This is harmful to health because it can be fatal. A specific food practice by Liberians is that older populations only eat tea or coffee and bread or cream of wheat for breakfast (Carter, 2008). This type of diet is not healthy for anyone to be eating. It does not consist of any proteins, fruits, or vitamins. Liberians also believe eye contact is disrespectful (Carter, 2008). That may be hard for healthcare providers to remember when caring for them because eye contact is something we are so used to doing.
References
Carter, M. (2008). Liberia. Framingham State University. https://www.framingham.edu/Assets/uploads/academics/colleges/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics/food-and-nutrition/_documents/liberia.pdf.
Goldade, J. (2018, September 14). Cultural spotlight: Liberian funeral traditions. https://www.frazerconsultants.com/2018/09/cultural-spotlight-liberian-funeral-traditions/
Nilsson, M., Howard, J., Konyon, F., & Tucker, H. (2019). The Challenge of Unlearning. Embassy of Sweden . https://www.swedenabroad.se/globalassets/ambassader/liberia-monrovia/documents/the-challenge-of-unlearning---a-study-of-gender-norms-and-masculinities-in-liberia.pdf.
Pike, J. (2013, July 10). Liberia Religion. Global Security. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/liberia/religion.htm.
Skolnik, R. (2016). Global Health 101 (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Treas, L., Wilkinson, J., Barnett, K. Smith, M. (2018). Basic nursing: Thinking, doing, and caring (2nd ed.). F. A. Davis.