Culture-bound syndromes in migratory contexts: the case of Bolivian immigrants.
María Teresa Roldán-Chicano, José Fernández-Rufete, César Hueso-Montoro and 3 others
PMID 28699998WHAT IT FOUND
Bolivian immigrants in Spain maintained culture-bound syndromes like fright and pasmo by adapting treatments.
Families performed domestic rituals, such as calling the spirit with incense, and shipped traditional oils from Bolivia to prevent infant illness, filling gaps left by unavailable healers.
Key findings
01Immigrants adapted to the absence of traditional healers in Spain by having family members perform domestic rituals, such as burning incense at midnight to call back a child's spirit after a fright.
02To prevent pasmo (illness from moonlight or dew) in infants, families maintained transnational ties by shipping traditional neatfoot and babassu oils from Bolivia to grease the newborn's fontanelle.
03Participants utilized a mixed care strategy, seeking biomedical treatment for physical symptoms like pain or headache while simultaneously consulting Spanish traditional healers or performing domestic rituals for the underlying cultural cause.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study focused on a specific group of Bolivian immigrants in one region of Spain, so findings may not apply to other cultural groups or locations. The authors note that the relationship between health professionals and immigrants was not the primary analytical focus, limiting insights into clinical interactions. The study did not evaluate how globalization is changing these syndromes or their treatments over time. As a qualitative study, it identifies themes and practices but cannot measure the efficacy or safety of the traditional treatments described.
Declared interests
The text does not report any conflicts of interest or funding sources.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that traditional practices like applying neatfoot oil to an infant's head are harmless simply because they are culturally significant. The study describes these practices but does not assess their safety or interaction with biomedical care. A clinician should not dismiss a patient's report of 'fright' as delusional, but also must not ignore the potential for untreated medical conditions that present with similar symptoms.