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Haiti Cultural Awareness Update. Junias Desamour MD. Haiti . Location in the Caribbean. First black republic to declare its independence in 1804 The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere Ethnic groups: black 95%, mulatto and white 5% .
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Haiti Cultural Awareness Update Junias Desamour MD
Haiti • Location in the Caribbean
First black republic to declare its independence in 1804 The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere Ethnic groups:black 95%, mulatto and white 5% Religions:Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% note:roughly half of the population practices voodoo GDP - per capita ($1,300 (2007 est.) Very corrupt Politicians Haiti Facts Source CIA World Facts
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 57.5 yearsmale: 55.83 years female: 59.35 years (2008 HIV Prevalence (Adults 15-49): 3.8% Deaths (2005): 16,000 Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write total pop 52.9% male: 54.8% female: 51.2% (2003 es Major infectious diseases food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008) Haiti Facts Source CDC
The Haitian Patient • Very Polite • “Yes” does not mean they understand what you are saying. Ask them to come with a child to translate if they are not proficient in English. • They believe in herbal medicine • They usually attribute pain to gas pain • Chest is called stomach in creole (deadly misnomer) • Stomach pain can mean chest pain.
The Haitian Patient • Recurrent high fever chills Headache up to 12 months after visiting the island ( place Malaria in the differential diagnosis) • Need Prophilaxis before traveling back home • Thyphoid fever is also very common (water) • Have patients brings meds bottles including herbal meds • Some may not know how to read or write