The Mexican Culture

By: Vic Arnoto, Kaelyn Weitzman, Elizabeth Roux, Elizabeth

Hoelzel, and Annie Piccirillo
An Overview in a Nutshell
● Mexican, Mexican American, Latino, Chicano, and Hispanic
individuals all identify with each in their core beliefs and values
○ Hispanic and Latino are used interchangeably
● The group of Mexican Americans consists of newer immigrants,
along with people who have been here for generations
● Many immigrants who come to the United states originate from all
different types of regions.
○ High mountains, swamp areas, sea and ocean-side regions
○ This gives insight into illness and disease that can come from these regions
● More than 11.7 millions Mexicans reside in the United States, which
is 28% of the immigrant-born population.
○ These people primarily reside in the states of Texas, California, and Florida
Overview Continued...
● Recently, many more Mexican immigrants are leaving the US than
Mexicans traveling to the US due to decreased job opportunities and
a tougher border enforcement
● The median age of Mexican Americans is 41
● Mexican-American immigrants have a much lower education level
than any other immigrant population
○ 6% with Bachelor’s Degrees
● The most common employment positions for Mexican-Americans
are maids, taxi drivers, grounds maintenance workers, construction
laborers, bellhops, and janitors
○ Many will also start up their own business primarily in the restaurant industry
Health Care Practices
● Only 37% of Mexican-Americans have health insurance, yet they
use the emergency room twice as much.
● About 17% use a folk healer, 32% use health care professionals and
the rest use self-treating techniques.
● Since a good portion of Mexicans use a folk healer in the US, it is
important to note because some remedies use lead and can
become harmful, such as azarcon and greta which are two herbs
most commonly used to treat stomach conditions in children.
● The family is considered to be the most credible source of
information among Mexicans.
Health Care Practices
● Many Mexicans use a “hot & cold” theory, which many diseases are
caused by an interruption of their hot or cold balance.
● Hot and cold do not always refer to temperature.
● An imbalance of cold would be treated with a hot remedy and vice
versa.
● Examples of hot conditions include infections, sore throats and
diarrhea and examples of cold conditions are cancer, malaria and
earaches.
● Migrant mexican workers are not aware of protecting themselves
from pesticides and herbicide poisoning because they are not
common in Mexico.
Health Care Practices
● Health promotion and teaching should be a family affair because
typically family and extended family take care of the patient once
they leave the hospital. By teaching with the family involved, they
will be able to decide if they have the resources to take care of the
patient in a home setting.
● When assessing a patient perform an individual pain assessment
with pain scales available in Spanish as well as with a visual scale
(Due to many members of this culture not possessing bilingual
traits).. Ask patient what they think caused the pain and what they
typically do to relieve it.
● Blood transfusions are acceptable but some may deny in fear of
receiving HIV or AIDS. Organ donation may not be acceptable due
 Nutrition...
● Mexican Dishes represent a blend of pre-Columbian,
indigenous Indian, Spanish, French and American
Culture.
● Foods consumed are rich in complex carbohydrates
such as corn products (tortillas), beans, rice, and bread.
● Proteins consumed are in the form of beans, shellfish,
fish, and a variety of pork and poultry. Chorizo is a spicy
sausage consumed with eggs.
● Tomatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, avocados, mangos,
pineapples, and papayas are common fruits and
vegetables enjoyed by the Mexican culture.
 More about Food!
● Frying is the extensive method of cooking.

● Due to tap water being heavily contaminated in Mexico,

reassurance is necessary on safe measures of
consumption within America.

● Foods are often spicy, depending on the region in which

foods are representing.
Eating Practices
● Traditionally, Mexicans prefer to consume 4-5 meals a day, but due
to living in a country accustomed to a three meal plan, Mexican-
Americans have adapted to this dietary plan.
● Desayuno (Breakfast) includes coffee, sweet rolls, tortillas and
beans, and occasional eggs.
● Comida (Lunch) is the main meal of the day (1 pm to 3 pm)
consisting of soup, a meat dish, rice, tortillas, corn, coffee and
dessert.
● Cena (Dinner) is a typical light meal consumed around 9 pm, with
foods varying based on income and geographic location.
High Risk Behaviors
● Hispanics are 50% more likely to die from diabetes
or liver disease than non- hispanics.
● 23% more obesity seen in hispanics.
● Leading causes of death in hispanics:
○ Cancer- leading cause of death in those of the
ages 45-65.
○ Cirrhosis
○ Heart disease
○ Accidents
 High Risk Behaviors
● Chronic liver disease and Cirrhosis is most
commonly caused by alcohol abuse.
● Obesity in Hispanics has to do with their eating
habits as a culture.
● Hispanic men over the age of 18 have a 15%
smoking rate.
● Hispanic women over the age of 18 have a 7.2%
smoking rate.

.
Communication
● Most Mexicans use Spanish as their primary language. Some speak
only English, some speak both English and Spanish, and some
speak only an indigenous Indian language.
● Significant importance is placed on verbal communication.
● Many members of the Mexican American culture may stand very
close, even with people who are not well known to them.
● Loud voice volume in formal settings may connote anger.
● Whereas more traditional and older individuals do not maintain eye
contact, acculturated and more educated people usually do
maintain eye contact.
 Communication
● Many Mexicans tend to be present-oriented. Time is relative, not
categorically imperative.
○ This may impede preventive medicine and follow-up care.
○ As a nurse, we would need to educate the patient on the need for preventive
medication and to finish antibiotics even after symptoms have disappeared.
● Patients may have a fatalistic view of the world.
○ This may also interfere with preventive behavior.
● Many arrive late for appointments and delay seeking health care
until the condition is more serious.
Communication
● Touch is common between people of the same sex. However, men
and women rarely touch in public.
○ As nurses, we would explain the necessity and ask permission to Mexican patients
before touching during a physical examination
● Formal names may be extensive and include a middle name and the
mother and father’s last names. A married woman may take her
husband’s last name, in which case she would then have three last
names.
○ As nurses, we would greet adults formally with Senor, Senora, or Senorita unless
told to do otherwise.
● Personal relationships are valued
○ As nurses, we would ask about the patient’s family and interests before focusing
on health issues. This will generally increase rapport and trust.
10 Most Important Facts about Mexicans
1. Personal Relationship are valued
a. As nurses, we should ask about the patient’s family and interests before focusing
on health issues.
2. While Mexicans may tend to be loud when in pain, males are
typically more expressive around family members than around
health care professionals.

a. Do not make the mistake of stereotyping Mexican patients as “loud” and thus
ignore a real medical emergency.

3. Due to life threatening diseases such as HIV and AIDS many

Mexican- Americans may refuse blood transfusions.
Continued:
4. Be cautious of the title you use with Mexicans.

a. Use senor, senora, etc. unless told otherwise.

5. Chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and obesity are most common disease
found in Mexican- American patients.

6. Only 37% of Mexican patients have health insurance but come to the
hospital often.

7. The family is considered to be the most credible source of

information.
Continued:
8. Since tap water in Mexico is very contaminated, we need to reassure
them that our water supply is purified.

9. Realize that patients may not want to discuss emotional problems

outside of the family.

10. Many people in this culture have a present time orientation, which
may impede preventive medicine and follow-up care.
Sources...
Cultural Diversity: Eating in America-Mexican-American. (2010 , August 30). Retrieved
November 13, 2017, from https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/HYG-5255

Galanti, G. (2012). Cultural sensitivity: a pocket guide for health care professionals.
Oakbrook Terrace, IL.: Joint Commission Resources.

Purnell, L. D. (2014). Guide to Culturally Competent Health Care (3rd ed.). FA Davis
Company.

Zong, J., & Batalova, J. (2017, March 02). Mexican Immigrants in the United States.
Retrieved November 25, 2017.