A client of Hispanic descent has just delivered her fourth child, and

QUESTION

A client of Hispanic descent has just delivered her fourth child, and avoids cold beverages and foods because she believes she must eat hot or warm foods and beverages and not allow herself to chill.

Which health belief view is this client demonstrating?
1. Biomedical
2. Holistic
3. Magico-religious
4. Folk medicine

ANSWER:

Correct Answer: 2

The holistic health belief view holds that the forces of nature must be maintained in balance or harmony. Human life is one aspect of nature that must be in harmony with the rest of nature. When the natural balance is disturbed, illness results. In many cultures, the mother who has just delivered a baby should be offered warm or hot foods and kept warm with blankets, because childbirth is seen as a cold condition. The biomedical health belief view is based on the belief that life and life processes are controlled by physical and biomedical processes that can be manipulated by humans. The magico-religious health belief view is based on health and illness being controlled by supernatural forces. Folk medicine is defined as those beliefs and practices relating to illness prevention and healing that derive from cultural traditions rather than Western medicine’s scientific base.