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The Role of Religion on the Health Practices of Mexican Americans

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Abstract

Twenty million Mexican Americans live in the U.S. (U.S. Census 2000 Summary File, 2000). It is vital that health care clinicians become familiar with and acknowledge the role of religion or religiosity on the health practices of Mexican Americans so that these needs may be addressed through holistic care. This paper reviews the origin and role that religion plays in the health practices of Mexican Americans. The potential benefits of addressing these client’s religious needs are examined and suggestions are offered on how health care clinicians may address these needs in a culturally sensitive manner.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Texas at El Paso, 1101 N. Campbell St., El Paso, TX, 79902-0581 , USA

    Josefina Lujan

  2. Sociology and Anthropology MAI 209, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA

    Howard B. Campbell

Authors
  1. Josefina Lujan
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  2. Howard B. Campbell
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Josefina Lujan.

Additional information

Josefina Lujan, MSN, RN is a first generation Mexican American who has been practicing nursing for 25 years in the Texas-Mexico border community of El Paso, Texas.

Howard Campbell is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Texas at El Paso. e-mails: jlujan1@utep.edu; hcampbel@utep.edu

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Lujan, J., Campbell, H.B. The Role of Religion on the Health Practices of Mexican Americans. J Relig Health 45, 183–195 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-006-9019-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-006-9019-8

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