title: Cultural meanings of musculoskeletal diseases in Chile's Mapuche Population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eight out of 10 Mapuche indigenous women have a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) and do not seek early medical aid.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study both the cultural meanings and implications of MSD from the Mapuche worldview.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ethnographic study carried out from 2008 to 2011 on indigenous reserves in southern Chile. Sixty-four Mapuches participated in comprehensive interviews, which were transcribed and analyzed by the research team.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five cultural domains: (a) foro kutran/bone disease is the general denomination of MSD; (b) Re-Rume Kutran/progressive and incurable course, refers to the course of the disease; (c) Kalül fücha mawiza/body is an old tree, describes internal manifestations such as worn bones, dry body, weak blood, and spiritual weakness; (d) witrür tripai foro/deformation is the external manifestation of MSD; and (e) Reñma ka lof kutran/family and community suffering refers to the impact of MSD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The explanation of MSD is consistent with the integrated body-nature-spirit worldview of the Mapuche.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To provide cultural nursing health care so that patients receive prompt diagnosis and care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health-CIGES, Universidad de La Frontera, Manuel Montt 112, Temuco, Chile. amalarc@ufro.cl
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alarcon
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D002677:Chile; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Mapuche society; cultural care; musculoskeletal disorder or disease; transcultural nursing