South African-American Family Cultural Assessment Essay

Overview/demographics

J.M is a 36-year-old female and was born in Cape Town, South Africa. It is a nation located in the south of Africa. It also contains the Prince Edward Islands, a small sub-Atlantic archipelago. The current population of South Africa is about 59 million (Veracini & Verbuyst, 2020, p.261). South Africa is one of the world’s most cosmopolitan countries. As a result, many diverse ethnic groups will make up the population in cities. Like its atmosphere, South Africans are very friendly and accommodating. Although there are 11 official languages, English is most people’s second or third language, thus visitors who are fluent in that language will be comfortable.

As from childhood, J.M has always dreamt of studying in the US. She came to the US as a student in business management. After graduating, she got married to an American and started a family. She currently lives in Georgia with her husband and two children. In South Africa, the father works as a bank manager in one of the main banks. On the other hand, the mother is a businesswoman and runs a family business in Cape Town. J. M’s mother also takes on the role of family manager due to the numerous activities that a mother must manage in a household. For the remainder of her life, she must sustain the physical aspects of her family’s existence and the intangible qualities, such as maintaining a vibrant environment for her husband and children. J. M’s father has a duty to provide and ensure that the family is safe.

Communication

J.M was glad to share information about her culture and various aspects of her life. She felt quite comfortable giving details about her life and was just a little hesitant about disclosing details about her sons. The interview took place in her break room at her workplace, with us sitting across from each other at a lunch table. She established easy eye contact as she told me about her life and family. Her voice was friendly, with volume, pace, and tone appropriate for the workplace. Her facial expression was appropriate depending on the topic of conversation. When I asked her about her future goals, she stated that she wants to own a larger multinational company. She said, “as a mother, I committed to making sure that I perform my roles and take care of the family.” She wants to ensure that her marriage is stable and the family is doing well for the family.

Family Roles and Organization

When J.M and the husband became parents, he would go to work, and she stayed at home with our baby. In J. M’s culture, men are considered the providers and women are supposed to be caregivers. Therefore, she spent all of her time with the children to know them more. She believes that men should be the heads of households. She wants the woman to be obedient to her husband’s and the household’s needs. She enjoys reading novels and gaming in her spare time. The sibling resides in Cape Town, South Africa, together with the parents. However, her closest relatives live in Texas, and she communicates with them several times every week, either via phone or in person.

However, J.M stated that the family tend to be more flexible when it comes to role-taking. Since they are both working, they have adopted a plan to handle the family. Today, the roles have expanded beyond yesterday’s expectations, and often both parents are working, and fathers are expected to be more present in their children’s lives. For example, when J.M is committed to other activities, the husband takes the responsibility of taking care of the children. He would be there for the kids and ensure that they have eaten, done their homework, and are generally comfortable. She believes that changing roles in the family has greatly helped keep the family together.

Workforce Issues

J.M struggled to find work after completing her studies in business management. She was confident that she would not remain unemployed for long. However, it was not the case because she got a job after several months. Because she was an African American, she had an easier time finding work in hotels dealing with African dishes. After a year of working in the hotel, she was hired by a firm selling utility products to consumers. Within three years, she had advanced to the level of management and was transferred to Georgia. He relocated to Georgia, where she met her husband. In the workplace, she was dealing with people from diverse cultures. As a result, she was forced to start learning the different cultures for effective coexistence in the workplace.

Biocultural Ecology

J.M. is a fair-skinned, medium-built female with black hair and grey eyes. She was dressed in a white silk blouse and blue pants. Because his maternal grandparents died in an accident before she was born, she had no family history of the disease. She claimed that his mother has type 2 diabetes and could benefit from shedding a few pounds. J.M. claims that when she takes drugs for pain, she notices that he becomes exceedingly sensitive and drowsy for hours.

High-Risk Behaviors

J.M and the husband enjoy social drinking but do not smoke. J.M drinks more on weekends while the husband does it throughout the week. She has never been involved in any unlawful drug activity. Her parents drank wine but did not engage in any drug-related activities. Her only sexual relationship is with her husband, and she wants to keep it that way. J.M. claims that she has never gone to the gym, whereas the husband goes to the gyms once in a while, especially when picked by a friend. She always wears her seatbelt and never uses her cell phone while driving, not even with the hands-free feature. She never exceeds the speed limit and tries to follow the traffic rules.

Nutrition

She has no dietary limitations, although she eats in small portions due to her gastric bypass surgery five years ago. She avoids greasy foods and eats as healthily as possible. She admits that her water intake could be improved, but she consumes a lot of vegetables. Her favorite foods include rice, spaghetti, chicken, seafood, and red meat. She is not a fan of desserts or fast food. She sees her doctor once a year, and she does not believe in going to the emergency department for minor ailments.

Interview Areas

Pregnancy and Childbearing Practices: J.M expresses her opposition to birth control methods used to avoid conception. She believes that, as God intended, women should not become pregnant before marriage. She claims she did not become sexually active until after she married. Her two sons were planned ahead of time, as she believes all successful families should do. Their children are three years apart, which she says provided her and her husband enough time to learn about parenting.

Death Rituals: J.M. stated that she is a Catholic and is only familiar with Catholic funeral rites. The body is sprinkled with holy water and covered to remember baptism. When the convoy arrives at the front of the church, an open Bible and a crucifix, both Christian symbols, maybe put on the coffin.

Spirituality: J.M and the husband are devout Catholics who routinely attend Catholic Mass. She claims that she enjoys church services and occasionally attends Bible study on Wednesday evenings. They regard God as a higher being and pray daily. They also believe that God, family, and remaining well provide her with strength. J. M’s definition of life is to be well, to support her family, and to strive to be a better person continually.

Health care practice: J.M is currently a healthy female with only a history of asthma. She mentioned that she did not have much to say about her healthcare methods.

Health care practitioner: L.J. visits a physician twice every year for a physical. She prefers an older Caucasian male healthcare provider. She is vaccinated against the flu and pneumonia.

Degree of acculturation: J.M feels a deep connection to her African ancestors. She has been exposed to various ethnic origins and solely seeks relationships based on their shared culture. She only knows Caucasian, African, American, and Asian Americans, and she claims that where she grew up, people were racist towards whites due to colonization. However, having interacted with different cultures, she does feel at ease in the presence of a varied group. When asked how she identifies herself, she answered that she is an African American.

Health Traditions Assessment Guide

Maintain Health

Physical:

• Do you have special clothes that you wear at a particular time of the day, week, and year? “No”
• Are you on special foods that you must take at a given time? “No”

• Do you have some foods that you cannot eat? “No”

Mental:

• Do you have hobbies and activities that you like doing? “I like to reading novels.”
• How often do you visit your family? “Not really.”
• How often do you visit friends: “Yes, at least two times a week, especially on weekends?”

Spiritual:

• Do you observe your religion, go to church, or participate in other communal activities? “Yes, I am Catholic, and I go to Mass.”
• Do you practice prayer or meditation? “I make a prayer.”
• Do you follow religious customs? “I do observe Passover.”
• Are you a member of a secret society? “No”

Protect Health

Physical:

• Do you have any foods that you were cautioned to be eating together? “No”
• Are you on a special diet? “No”
• Do you have a specific type of cloths to wear? “No.”

Mental

• Do you have people or circumstances that you are supposed to avoid? “Yes, I was told to avoid extramarital affairs.”
• Do you have some precautions under some situations? “No”
• Do you always have time for yourself? “Yes, I go to a quiet place to relax when I have had a stressful day.”

Spiritual:

• Do you follow religious customs? “Yes, I attend mass on occasion.”
• Do you wear charms or display them in your home? “No”

Restore Health

Physical:

• What medications do you take before seeing a doctor or nurse? “Allergies, colds, and sprays.”
• Do you consume any herbs? “No”
• Do you employ any treatments? “No.”

Mental:

• Are you aware of any special relaxation techniques that your mother or grandma may employ? “She goes out with friends.”
• Are you aware of how major issues in your community can be addressed? “No”
• Do you take specialized teas to unwind and relax? “No”

Spiritual:

• Are you aware of any religious rites that aid in restoring health? “No”
• Do you practice meditation? “No”
• Do you seek out therapeutic treatments regularly? “No.”
• Are you familiar with exorcism? “No,” you say (Giger & Davidhizar, 2002).

Cultural Phenomena Affecting Health

Giger and Davidhizar’s Transcultural Assessment Model

Cultural Unique Individual:

1. Birthplace: Cape Town, South Africa.
2. Culture: “belonging to and following a particular way of life.”
3. Race: African American.
4. Time spent in the country: ten years.

Communication: English is one of the most frequently spoken languages in South Africa, allowing it to overcome cultural divides more easily than most other local languages. For official papers, each province utilizes English as the most common language in their jurisdiction.

1. Quality of voice: Average
2. Pronunciation: Clear and accurate
3. Application of silence: frequent
4. Application of nonverbal: nothing.
5. Touch: J.M accepts touch without difficulties.
6. How do you convey your message to others? Verbal communication allows me to make my point.
   1. Do you enjoy talking with your friends, relatives, and acquaintances? “Yes”
   2. Do you usually answer questions with words, body movement, or both? “I just answer with words.”

Space:

1. How comfortable are you here? “Very comfortable.”
2. The distance of conversation: about two or more feet.
3. Description of space:
   1. Explain your degree of comfort with closeness when talking with or standing near others: “I feel uncomfortable when I am close.”
   2. Do objects within the surroundings affect your view of space? “The objects do not affect my sense of space.”
4. How close do you stand when you talk with family members? “I stand an arm’s length.”
   1. When communicating with colleagues and other friends, how close do you stand? “approximately 2 feet or more.”
   2. How do you feel when a loved one touches you? “I’m feeling pleasant and at ease.”

Social Organization:

1. The state of health: Good
2. Marital status: Married
3. The number of children: “Two sons.”
4. Are your parents living or deceased? They are living.
   1. What do you mean by social activities? “are events that bring individuals together.”
   2. Do you believe in the existence of a Supreme Being? “Of course, I believe in God.”
   3. How do you honor the Supreme Being? “I pray, sing, and attend church.”
   4. How do you get along with your siblings and parents? “I get along with everyone.”
   5. From your point of view, what is work? “it is a source of livelihood for me.”
   6. What is your political orientation? “I am Democrat and follow that party. However, I do not know much about politics.”

Time:

1. Time Orientation: Individual who is concerned with the future.
2. Time perspective: “I like spending time with my family and friends.”
3. Physiochemical response to time:
   1. “I get at least seven hours of sleep every night.”
   2. Sleeps and wakes on a regular program. “I usually go to bed at 11 p.m. and get up at 6 a.m. during the week and 8 a.m. on weekends.”
   3. Recognizes the significance of taking medications and other treatments on time: “I take my meds exactly as directed.”

Environmental control:

1. Internal control: J.M feels that the ability to influence change lies in her.
2. Value orientation: J.M has a strong belief in supernatural forces. Prayer is used to effect change.
   1. How frequently do you get visitors at home? “I usually have guests twice a week, especially on weekends.”
   2. What home remedies have you tried and found to be effective? “Honey, particularly when treating sore throat.”

Biological variations:

1. Body Structure: Medium framed average height.
2. Skin color: fair skin
3. Hair color and distribution: Black and thin.
4. What ailments are common in your family? “Diabetes”
5. The types of foods do you and your family like to eat? “Any healthy food choices.”

Nursing Assment

J.M lives with her husband and two children in Georgia. She is a kind and welcoming person to people and a loving and supportive member of her family. She is fine with some people invading her personal space as long as they have a good purpose. Nurses should allow her to express her views and aspirations regarding her healthcare. During any periods of convalescence, she should be allowed to include her own desired care practices as long as they do not conflict with medical provider instructions. She will demand that her care and treatment plans be communicated to her. She will also expect her family to be kept informed of her progress when they visit her in the hospital.

Summary

Overall, J.M is a kind and friendly person and I had a great time interviewing her because I got a glimpse into the realm of actual and perceived African American culture and beliefs. During this process, I discovered that everyone is unique and has different perspectives on their own experiences than others. Because I believe I now have a better understanding of this race, the information gathered from this interview will help me to continue to handle myself professionally in my nursing career. As a caregiver, I am sure that I can conduct myself professionally with the understanding that people behave, believe, and conduct themselves in ways that are inextricably linked to their experiences.

References

Giger, J. N., & Davidhizar, R. (2002). The Giger and Davidhizar transcultural assessment model.Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 13(3), 185-188. Web.

Veracini, L., & Verbuyst, R. (2020). South Africa’s settler-colonial present: Khoisan revivalism and the question of indigeneity.Social Dynamics, 46(2), 259-276. Web.