CULTURAL BELIEFS AND HEALTH BEHAVIORS OF PREGNANT MEXICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN - IMPLICATIONS FOR PRIMARY-CARE

A significant aspect of holistic primary care nursing is that it seeks to assess and understand clients' health beliefs and behaviors in the context of culture. This article examines implications for primary ca re nursing practice based on the cultural beliefs and health behaviors of pregnant Mexican-American women. Giger and Davidhizar's transcultu ral assessment model is used to evaluate six cultural phenomena presen t in all cultural groups. Culturally sensitive primary care by certifi ed nurse-midwives in a community health birth center setting is descri bed.