Pharmaceutical ethnobotany in the western part of Granada province (southern Spain): Ethnopharmacological synthesis

Aim

The aim of this work is to catalogue, document, and make known the uses of plants for folk medicine in the western part of the province of Granada (southern Spain). An analysis was made of the species used, parts of the plant employed, preparation methods, administration means, and the ailments treated in relation to pathological groups.

Materials and methods

The work was performed in 16 municipalities within the study zone. The participants were located mainly by questionnaires distributed in public and private centres. The information, gathered through semi-structured open interviews of a total of 279 people, was included in a database for subsequent analysis. A floristic catalogue of the territory was compiled, enabling analyses of the relevance of certain botanical families in popular medicine.

Results and conclusions

Great diversity was established among medicinal species in the region. A total of 229 species of plants were catalogued for use in human medicine to prevent or treat 100 different health problems covering 14 different pathological groups. The number of references reached 1963. The popular pharmacopoeia of this area relies primarily on plants to treat digestive, respiratory, and circulatory problems, using mainly the soft parts of the plant (leaves and flowers) prepared in simple ways (decoction, infusion). An analysis of the medicinal ritual uses of 34 species and the different symptoms reflected a certain acculturation in relation to ethnobotanical knowledge in the last 20 years.

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The traditional knowledge of plants was shown in relation to medicinal use, reflecting a striking diversity of species and uses, as well as their importance in popular plant therapy in the study zone. These traditions could pave the way for future phytochemical and pharmacological studies and thereby give rise to new medicinal resources.     

Correlates of problematic eating behaviors in less acculturated Latinas

We examined whether body weight, depression, and body dissatisfaction could predict problematic eating behaviors in a community sample of less acculturated adult Latina women. Three hundred and forty-nine Latina women ages 20-40 were classified as non-overeater (n=244), eating disorder not otherwise specified-binge eating disorder features (EDNOS-BED) (n=65), or eating disorder not otherwise specified-bulimia nervosa features (EDNOS-BN) (n=40). Participants completed measures of problematic eating behaviors, depression, and body image. Results revealed that normal weight and overweight women were at a higher risk only for EDNOS-BN, while obese women were at a higher risk for either EDNOS-BN or EDNOS-BED. Women with high depression scores were 16 times more likely to be assigned to the EDNOS-BN group than women with lower depression scores. Results illustrate the important role of depression and body weight in predicting problematic eating in less acculturated Latinas.     

Acculturation and the use of complementary and alternative medicine

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been growing substantially in the US in recent years. Such a growth in CAM use coincides with an ongoing increase in the proportion of the foreign-born population in the US. The main objective of this study is to examine the relation between acculturation and the use of CAM therapies among immigrants. Data from a CAM supplement to the 2002 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed to estimate the effects of acculturation on the likelihood of using different CAM therapies over the past 12 months prior to the survey. The results suggest that the level of acculturation-as measured by nativity/length of stay in the US and language of interview-is strongly associated with CAM use. As immigrants stay longer in the US or as their use of English becomes more proficient, the likelihood that they use CAM therapies increases as well, and it gradually approaches the level of CAM use by native-born Americans. Moreover, this relation between acculturation and CAM use generally persists even after the effects of socioeconomic status, health insurance coverage, self-reported health status, and other demographic variables have all been taken into consideration. The substantially lower rates of CAM use by recent immigrants and its possible causes warrant further research.     

民族地区文化多样性场景下的汉族中学生涵化态度

目的:文化多样性场景下的涵化是探讨民族团结教育的重要视角。以中国少数民族地区汉族中学生为例,探讨涵化态度与文化多样性的关系。方法:采用移民青少年文化心理适应国际比较研究量表对495名中学生进行调查。结果:整合与对外来人口态度呈正相关,与受歧视感呈负相关;整合、同化、分离、边缘化与对外来人口态度呈负相关,与受歧视感呈正相关;外来人口态度和受歧视感对整合、同化、分离、边缘化的预测能力较强,同化、分离、边缘化4种涵化态度的显著预测变量的决定系数为0.01、-0.09、0.06、0.01(P0.05);涵化态度与文化多样性的结构方程模型建构表明,涵化态度对整合、同化、分离、边缘化的效应均显著(γ=0.46,SE=0.21,P0.01;γ=-0.72,SE=0.26,P0.01;γ=-0.61,SE=0.19,P0.01;γ=-0.59,SE=0.20,P0.01)。结论 :涵化心理的研究表明,进行多元文化教育,能够有效提升对文化的认同感,促进民族团结。     

Perceived risk of breast cancer among Latinas attending community clinics: risk comprehension and relationship with mammography adherence

Objective  To describe breast cancer risk perceptions, determine risk comprehension, and evaluate mammography adherence among Latinas. Methods  Latina women age ≥35, primarily from Central and South America, were recruited from community-based clinics to complete in-person interviews (n = 450). Risk comprehension was calculated as the difference between numeric perceived risk and Gail risk score. Based on recommended guidelines from the year data were collected (2002), mammography adherence was defined as having a mammogram every one to two years for women ≥40 years of age. Results  Breast cancer risk comprehension was low, as 81% of women overestimated their risk and only 6.9% of women were high risk based on Gail risk scores. Greater cancer worry and younger age were significantly associated with greater perceived risk and risk overestimation. Of women age eligible for mammography (n = 328), 29.0% were non-adherent to screening guidelines. Adherence was associated with older age, (OR = 2.99, 95% CI = 1.76–5.09), having insurance (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.03–3.17), greater acculturation (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.02–1.36), and higher breast cancer knowledge (OR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.21–3.40). Conclusions  While most Latinas over-estimated their breast cancer risk, older age, having insurance, being more acculturated, and having greater knowledge were associated with greater screening adherence in this Latino population. Perceived risk, risk comprehension, and cancer worry were not associated with adherence. In Latinas, screening interventions should emphasize knowledge and target education efforts at younger, uninsured, and less acculturated mammography-eligible women. Supported by Grants U01CA86114, U01CA114593, K05CA96940 (JM), and K07CA131172 (KG) from the National Cancer Institute.     

Nursing students' self-perceptions as insiders in the practice culture

Nursing students must be able to function comfortably, confidently, and competently within the culture of nursing when they graduate. Although different models of clinical teaching are used to acculturate undergraduate nursing students to their professional practice roles, it is not known to what extent acculturation is affected by these models. The two-fold purpose of this study was to compare self-perceptions as insiders of students involved in preceptored and instructor led clinical experiences and to identify factors contributing to students self-perceptions as insiders. Using a non-equivalent group’s prepost- test design, 38 undergraduate students, participated either in traditional instructor led practicums or summer externships. In addition to a background questionnaire, students completed an investigator generated perceptions of self in the clinical practice culture scale prior to, and at the end of, their clinical experiences. Findings revealed that both groups of students demonstrated significant changes in their self-perceptions as insiders as a result of their clinical experiences but there was no significant interaction effect of clinical teaching model and time on students’ insider self-perceptions. Students identified multiple factors that influenced their insider perceptions. Implications of these finding are discussed.     

Predictors of complementary and alternative medicine use among older Mexican Americans

To determine predictors of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use, we used a cohort of 1445 non-institutionalized Mexican Americans aged 65 and older from the first wave (1993–1994) of the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly, followed until 2000–2001. The main outcome was use of any CAM (herbal medicine, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, relaxation techniques or spiritual healing) in the past 12 months and was assessed at 7 years of follow-up. Potential predictors of CAM use at baseline included sociodemographics, acculturation factors, and medical conditions. The overall rate of CAM use among older Mexican Americans was 31.6%. Independent predictors of higher CAM use were female gender, being on Medicaid, frequent church attendance and higher number of medical conditions. In contrast, subjects who were born in US and spoke either Spanish or English at interview had lower CAM use compared with subjects who were born in Mexico.     

Gender differences in drinking behavior among Latino/a heavy drinkers

BackgroundIn the United States (U.S.), higher levels of acculturation have been associated with higher rates of heavy alcohol use more consistently among Latino women than among Latino men. This paper explores mechanisms underlying the link between acculturation and alcohol use among Latino/as in the U.S. We examine alcohol use expectancies and motives from the perspectives of the social cognitive theory of gender development.MethodsQualitative narratives data from six focus groups of individuals (total n = 37), who met criteria for heavy drinking (4/5 drinks/occasion for females/males), were examined separately by gender (18 females; 19 males). Coded narratives data were analyzed using a framework that compared lives in Latin America and in the U.S. Emergent themes were analyzed for their consistency across genders. Gender-specific themes were identified.ResultsChanges in family structure and the loss of social networks prompted divergent patterns of drinking among men and women, such that relative to patterns in their countries of origin, drinking among Latino women increased while it decreased among Latino men. Men and women reported drinking to replace missing social bonds, a motive not frequently reported in the literature on drinking motives. Women who engaged in heavy-drinking nonetheless described traditional gender role expectations after U.S. arrival. Only men endorsed positive alcohol expectancies in Latin America. Women reported drinking to alleviate psychological distress in the U.S.ConclusionsPre and post-immigration comparisons revealed different drinking trajectories among men and women after immigration to the U.S. These patterns appeared to be influenced by new social contexts and changes in familial expectations regarding women’s roles. Future inquiry that examines gender-specific themes in alcohol expectancies and motives unique to the experience of immigration, is warranted.