title: Perceptions of health among immigrant Latino adolescents from Mexico.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This ethnographic study describes the health-related perceptions of immigrant Latino adolescents from Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen adolescents, purposively recruited from two non-health-based community settings, participated. Each was interviewed twice and completed a visual narrative project using disposable cameras. Audiotaped transcripts and photographs were inductively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Being healthy is holistically perceived by these adolescents and includes physical, mental, spiritual, social, and environmental factors. Pictures portrayed healthy and unhealthy influences and behaviors, including eating habits, exercise, self-care, relationships, garbage, and pollution. Personal responsibility was important in being healthy and in promoting one's health. Family was identified as an important source of health-related information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses recognizing the holistic, comprehensive health-related perceptions of immigrant Latino adolescents can promote their health and design culturally and developmentally appropriate educational strategies and health interventions aimed at eliminating health disparities.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Minneapolis, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Duckett
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Saewyc
authors.forename: Linda H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Bearinger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000208:ethnology*; D008800:Mexico; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D012944:Social Support; D012945:Social Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States