Relation of Hispanic Culture to Healthcare in U.S.

According to Wurman (2004), the degree of support that a person gets from family and friends when they suffer from illness, injury or disease can vary drastically from culture to culture. Wurman notes that in the United States, one aspect of Hispanic culture that can strongly distinguish it from the majority or even other minority cultures is "la familia." This aspect of the culture is said to make for a strong difference in Hispanics' degree of support following illness or injury.

In order to fully understand the point being made, it is necessary to first discuss the cultural concept of "familia" which Merrill (2003) states is a very broad notion unlike that of the Euroamerican concept of the nucleus or immediate family, composed of father, mother, and 2.4 children,. Familia, according to Merrill, is an aspect of Hispanic culture that includes the extended family: cousins, uncles, parents, grandmothers, nephews, and siblings, often living either together or in close proximity. Nor is the concept of familia applied solely to blood-ties. In this regard, Merrill (2003) reports that godparents (padrinos/madrinas) often operate to bind clans together through a strong sense of sharing a joint responsibility for a child's welfare. While this was originally a Catholic concept, this idea of godparent has now transcended religion and become a part of the Hispanic culture itself.