Heritage Assessment In 2012 the United States Census Bureau estimated there will be roughly 20 million new immigrants living in the U.S. over the next two decades (Plumer June, 2013). The results will be an increase of different cultures and traditions which healthcare workers will need to consider within their practice. The goal of this paper is to show the reader the usefulness of the Heritage Assessment tool when it is used to evaluate the individual’s needs in relation to culture and tradition. The author of the paper will share with the reader the interviews of families from three different cultures (the first being her own) and explore the common health traditions of their cultures and how the families subscribe to the traditions. Heritage Assessment tool
The usefulness of the heritage assessment tool is to give the provider a way to understand the role of culture and traditions and how it affects the way a patient views health and illness. The tool uses simple questions regarding cultural background of an individual such as: the relationship of family members, religious beliefs, ethnic activities and language. At the end of the assessment the nurse will have a better idea of how the individual identifies with a particular culture and traditions. Mexican and Iraqi health culture and traditions
The author of this paper is of Mexican heritage. Her grandmother came over from Mexico when she was a small child. The author of the paper was brought up in a large Mexican family and attended a small catholic church where she also went to school. It was important to attend mass several times weekly and ask god to forgive you for your sins. Food and religion was a major part of any holiday. They typically consisted of attending mass followed by a big meal that almost always included beans cooked with lard, fried red meat and cheese. The grandparents and extended family played a role in raising the smaller children. Children would stay with grandparents, aunts and uncles daily while the parents were at work. The extended family also cared for other members of the family who were sick or dying. This allowed the person who is sick to remain in the home while they pass, surrounded by family. The seven sacraments of the Catholic Church are significant in the culture. Example: when babies are born it is extremely important that they are baptized, which according to Catholicism, ensures their entrance into heaven.
The author of this paper married a man who emigrated to the U.S. from Iraq when he was ten years of age. Islam is the major religion of his family and Arabic is the main language spoken. Traditionally in the Islamic religion the people pray five times daily. They come together as a community and pray for those who are ill. Their diet usually includes fresh foods from the market; lentils, beans, rice and lamb. Extended family members live with each other and help raise the younger children. Traditional remedies were used to keep illness away; they often included garlic and ginger.
The author of this paper tries to combine the two cultures to make the best overall life for her and her family. The author believes in god and spirituality to guide her to make good decisions, but she does not wish to belong to a particular religion. She prays, with her children nightly before bed, for the sick and suffering. She does incorporate alternative therapies such as chiropractic and massage to aid in her health. The author also enjoys health activities for her and her family to maintain a healthy weight. The author of the paper and her family cook at home almost always using more traditional foods from the author’s husband’s heritage because it has been proven to be the healthier option.

Yemen heath Culture and traditions
The next interview was a man who immigrated into the United States from Yemen 15 years ago. The main language in Yemen is Arabic and the main religion is Islam. The interviewee is a member of a group that meets frequently to speak the native language. The interviewee was raised in a home living with his grandparents. While growing up, the elders of the community had several folktales about health and illness. An example given: when the interviewee was a child and sick with the measles, his family covered him in red clothing to rid him of the evil spirits. Elders also gave the younger people of the community home remedies, the main ingredients of which included garlic and honey to prevent disease and illness. The diet of this culture includes rice for every meal, and sometimes meat (usually lamb or chicken, but pork is forbidden). The meat needs to be prepared a particular way according the Islamic religion. Fresh fruit and vegetables come from street markets and the people travel daily to gather the produce. Alcohol is not allowed in the religion, although a popular vice in Yemen is an Arabian shrub called khat. The people of Yemen chew the leaves of the shrub and used it as a stimulant. Some health risks for long term use include periodontal disease, gastric ulcers and physical dependency to the plant itself. The interviewee describes himself as more educated and knows better than to believe some of the folktales that he once was told. The interviewee does follow the diet of his culture and religion; he does not partake in drinking alcohol, eating pork or chewing khat. The interviewee and his family, when living in Yemen, struggled with health maintenance because healthcare is not free and there is no such thing as insurance. People of Yemen do go to the hospital when they are very sick but they do not see medical doctors for maintenance care because they cannot afford it. Chinese health culture and traditions
The last family that was interviewed emigrated from China to the United States 14 years ago. They now have a son age 8 and a daughter age 6. The interviewed family tries hard to maintain Chinese traditions within their home. The native language is Chinese and this is also their preferred language. They try to only speak Chinese with their children. The children also attend Chinese school on the weekends to learn the language and the traditional Chinese writing.
Food plays a big role in the Chinese culture. With every holiday there is an abundance of food. Meals typically consist of white rice, noodles, seafood and little red meat. Traditional Chinese herbs still play a large role in the health of the interviewee’s family. The family takes herbs on a regular basis, and when illness occurs they often use a combination of eastern herbs and western antibiotics. They also incorporate alternative Chinese therapies in their health by using acupuncture and massage to prevent illness and maintain balance in the body, mind and spirit. Subscribing to traditions and values
Traditions and culture play major roles in any society. They enhance relationships, help set moral values and help individuals make important life decisions. Tradition and culture form communities. As the author of this paper evaluated the interviews, the common thread among the interviewees was that each of them held a deep respect and connection to the culture in which they were raised. Although the interviewees don’t subscribe to 100% of the beliefs and values they grew up with, it was never enough for them to separate themselves from the culture. The combination of the cultures in which they were raised with the more modern culture which they are living in now has resulted in unique cultures which may be passed on to future generations. They will hold on to old wives’ tails about their health and also incorporate new modern technologies that have been scientifically proven to hopefully have the best overall outcome for their health. Conclusion
The Heritage Assessment Tool was used in all interviews cited in this paper. It served as a means to open up the dialogue between the interviewer and the interviewee about their personal beliefs, culture and religion. The tool has helped to build an understanding of how the individual looks at their health, illness, life and death. The use of this tool will help healthcare workers treat the patient and their family as unique individuals with very distinctive needs.
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References
Plumer June, B. (2013, June). Here’s how the U.S. population would change under immigration reform. Retrieved November 5, 2014, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/20/immigration-projections