Risky Behavior, Nutrition and Child Bearing Practices - Essay Example

Even as minority ethnic groups may deem equality of treatment in healthcare, it has to be acknowledged that differences in physiological makeup make it prudent to offer differentiated healthcare.

Furthermore cultural practices also call for differentiation of healthcare since different local practices result in differentiated healthcare needs. Discussion Engagement in Risky Behavior Risky behavior is in many instances an important predictor of the health of a population. While human beings acknowledge that risky behavior is a cause of poor health it is also a fact that instances of obesity as a result of engaging in the risky behavior of eating junk food still exist. There are other risky behaviors such as smoking and drinking which despite education on their effects continue to unexplainably show high rates of prevalence among the American population.

The same may also be said of cultural practices which though proven to be negative continue to be adhered to by certain populations. While some cultural practices lead to negative and risky behavior, the cultural practices of some ethnic groups have the opposite effect. A good example of this is the prohibition of alcohol and tobacco among the Amish and the prohibition of alcohol among the Arabs. On the other hand, immigrants in America are led to alcohol consumption due to the stress of attaining the American dream.

Another example is the irresponsible attitudes of traditional African cultural practices which have led to relatively high rates of HIV/AIDS infections in African countries. The Asian family observed was different in this regard since they did not drink or smoke since they were Muslims. Nutrition Food is a significant aspect in determining the nutrition of a population. For instance, people who live near the sea will eat a lot of seafood while those living in rural areas will tend to eat healthier in that they have access not only to fresh food but also to abundance.

People living in the city would on the other hand be less healthy due to financial constraints and issues of accessibility. Local practices, traditions, and superstitions also come into play in determining nutrition. A good example is the cooking of black-eyed peas for New Year to bring good luck and the preference for fatty foods since African Americans do not look well upon thinness. The Asian family observed tended to eat desserts that did not have high sugar content. Most of the foods were cooked in very low fat and the vegetables were steamed rather than fried.

While celebrations in other cultures tend to focus a lot on eating and drinking during religious events and other ceremonies, Asians tended to keep food at a minimum instead of concentrating on the celebrations and eating and drinking after to avoid excesses. Pregnancy and Child-Bearing Practices Different people receive different medical care during pregnancy and childbirth. This is influenced not only by factors of cost and accessibility but also attitudes toward childbearing. Most cultures usually deem the childbearing process as a happy moment even as it is deemed a woman’s responsibility.

Different cultures have different means and procedures for guiding the childbearing process ranging from the time of rest to the type of food to be consumed during pregnancy. In some cultures such as China, only one child is allowed for a set of parents which has led to high incidences of abortion, especially of the girl child. The family observed while being Asian seemed to have been influenced by American culture and had several children which were of mixed sexuality. However, it seemed as if the male children received more attention, especially from the father.

Conclusion The various practices ranging from risky behavior to nutrition and childbearing practices portray the diversity in health attitudes and perspectives toward childbearing. The health professional, therefore, has the task of understanding the background of the people he is dealing with and as such understanding the cultural beliefs to be able to isolate ones that may harm the health of his patients and ones that are harmless. Practices that are simply a deviation from the norm and pose no serious threat to health ought not to be taken into account.