Performing a Heritage Assessment on Three Families
Introduction The heritage assessment tool is an essential tool for assessing the health beliefs and practices of individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. It helps to identify cultural and traditional beliefs, values, and practices that may influence an individual’s perception of health and their health-seeking behaviors. This paper presents a heritage assessment conducted on three families from diverse cultural backgrounds. The families assessed include an African American family, a Hispanic family, and an Indian family. The aim of the assessment is to identify common health traditions based on their cultural heritage, evaluate and discuss how the families subscribe to these traditions and practices, and address health maintenance, health protection, and health restoration as they relate to the assessment.
Heritage Assessment Tool Results The heritage assessment tool was used to assess three families, including an African American family, a Hispanic family, and an Indian family. The results of the heritage assessment tool for each family are presented below.
Family 1: African American Family
Health Traditions Based on Cultural Heritage The African American family identified the following health traditions based on their cultural heritage:
- Use of traditional medicines and herbs to treat illnesses and ailments.
- A preference for home remedies, such as drinking tea or gargling with saltwater for sore throat relief.
- A strong belief in the power of prayer and spirituality in healing.
- A preference for home-cooked meals, with an emphasis on foods high in fiber, such as greens and sweet potatoes.
Evaluation of the Family’s Subscription to Health Traditions and Practices The African American family strongly adheres to their traditional health practices. They often use traditional herbs and home remedies before seeking medical attention for minor illnesses. They also prefer to cook their meals at home and avoid processed foods as much as possible. The family is religious and believes in the power of prayer to heal illnesses.
Health Maintenance, Health Protection, and Health Restoration The family practices good health maintenance habits, including regular exercise and a balanced diet. They also practice good hygiene by washing their hands regularly and keeping their surroundings clean. In terms of health protection, the family is vaccinated and goes for regular check-ups with their healthcare provider. The family’s belief in prayer and spirituality helps with health restoration, and they often pray for healing when one of them falls ill.
Family 2: Hispanic Family
Health Traditions Based on Cultural Heritage The Hispanic family identified the following health traditions based on their cultural heritage:
- A preference for traditional medicines, such as herbal remedies and homeopathic treatments.
- A strong belief in the importance of family and community support in promoting health and healing.
- A preference for natural remedies, such as teas and soups, to treat minor illnesses.
- A belief in the power of touch therapy, such as massage and acupuncture, to promote healing.
Evaluation of the Family’s Subscription to Health Traditions and Practices The Hispanic family strongly adheres to their traditional health practices. They prefer to use natural remedies and traditional medicines before seeking medical attention for minor illnesses. They also believe in the importance of family and community support in promoting health and healing. The family also practices touch therapy, such as massage and acupuncture, to promote healing.
Health Maintenance, Health Protection, and Health Restoration The family practices good health maintenance habits, including regular exercise and a balanced diet. They also practice good hygiene by washing their hands regularly and keeping their surroundings clean. In terms of health protection, the family is vaccinated and goes for regular check-ups with their healthcare provider. The family’s belief in natural remedies and touch therapy helps with health restoration, and they often use these methods to treat illnesses and promote healing.
Family 3: Indian Family
Health Traditions Based on Cultural Heritage The Indian family identified the following health traditions based on their cultural heritage:
- A preference