The Portuguese Culture Erica Anacleto, Sara Hannah, Melissa Perrieira

Why The Portuguese Culture

Beliefs/practices generic to the culture Catholic beliefs Sunday Church goers Rosary and prayers for dying Believes that love ones who passed are watching over us Our Lady of Fatima Festival Lots of visitors in Hospital, rosaries, priests Will want to receive communion in hospital

Views of wellness, illness, and disabilities Illness can be helped by prayer Anxiety, guilt can cause illness No birth control Fetal abnormalities are accepted, not a reason for abortion Large body habitus sign of wellness The ill are well taken care of

Health seeking behavior Local healers within Portuguese communities Word of mouth The men are stubborn, commonly wait until symptoms severe

Traditional healers/alternative or herbal medicine Hair of the corn Parsley tea

Domestic violence Emotional and verbal abuse Parents are traditionally physical Corporal punishment BUT still loving and supportive

Substance abuse ETOH Tobacco Mostly found in males, young men start early WINE

Diet and/or specific dietary preferences Killed their own pigs, chickens Sopas, sweet bread Sausage/Linguicia Bread Fish No watermelon or figs at night time

Family and gender roles Common for dad to be involved in landscaping, dairy, fishing, agriculture, manual labor Moms can work but many stay at home Women are generally domesticated and take care of all household chores, cooking Man is normally breadwinner Male children are favored, have more relaxed rules Female children participate in parades, are shown off, held to stricter standards than boys

View of western health care practitioners Traditionally in Portugal, use of witchdoctors, healers, midwifes Not many real doctors, expensive Here, health care practitioners are commonly used and appreciated Traditional, older generation Portuguese men reluctant until very necessary

Spirituality as it relates to health practices Prayer to God for healing Saints Candles, rosary May bring religious artifacts to hospital Herbal home remedies

Where is health care normally sought first? Home remedies as first line of treatment OTC medications Family Physician Hospital

What cultural practices are important for health care providers to know about? How Portuguese is the patient? Girls no looking or touching men Religious convictions Be considerate of prayer time Be aware of Catholic food restrictions Many visitors, lots of prayer

Recommended nursing care plan and interventions specific to the Portuguese culture Education of healthy diet Discuss risks of Diabetes, liver cirrhosis Teach patient risks of smoking and drinking May need to provide translator Don’t assume the patient is hispanic Don’t use spanish translator

References

Need to get Portuguese bread Portuguese dessert espece Picture from parades, band, folklore video Cape Rooster Cheese Wine