Ethnicity, traditional health beliefs, and health-seeking behavior: guardians' attitudes regarding their children's medical treatment.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this research was to examine ethnic variation in attitudes about traditional health beliefs concerning the use of home remedies and self-medicating behavior among guardians for their children.


METHODS
As part of a community health care utilization study of children, questions were included regarding guardians' traditional health beliefs. Survey questions were adapted from the National Health Interview Survey or developed by the researchers. A cross-sectional stratified sample of households with children (n = 1606) were surveyed by random digit dialing.


RESULTS
Two of four traditional health belief questions were significantly associated with ethnicity. Differences were observed for (a) guardians' willingness to treat their children with home remedies rather than use a health care provider if the condition was nonemergent and (b) their belief that some home remedies are better than prescribed drugs for curing illness (P <.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Some traditional health beliefs among guardians differed by ethnicity. However, differences between the two minority groups were as pronounced as differences between minority and nonminority guardians. An understanding of the diversity of ethnic attitudes about traditional health beliefs is necessary for those involved in the delivery of health care. A stereotypical view that larger proportions of minorities subscribe to traditional health beliefs than do Whites is not supported in this research.
Roy
Lonnie C
LC
Department of Planning, Children's Medical Center of Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.
Torrez
Diana
D
Dale
Juanita Conkin
JC
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013781:Texas; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data