A family health nurse works with a variety of cultures providing health care services that include preventive care, acute treatment, and education. Of the following families, which is most likely to use folk medicine?

Question

1. The family who speaks little English and does not have a member who holds a job
2. A family who has numerous relatives in a Spanish-American sector of the city
3. A female client whose culture is one of male dominance
4. A Chinese client who has a small, family-run business in the area

Answer 1

1. The family who speaks little English and does not have a member who holds a job

Rationale:
Folk medicine is defined as beliefs and practices that rely on illness prevention and healing derived from cultural traditions rather than modern medicine's scientific base. Families who have limited access to scientific health care may turn to folk medicine or folk healing. Because folk healing is more culturally based, it may be more comfortable and less frightening for the family who is not fluent in the English language and has limited access to scientific health care. Folk medicine is thought to be more humanistic than biomedical health care. Even though any of the clients mentioned above could utilize folk medicine, it is more likely to be used by the first one described.