Description/Overview: This three-part symposium will provide an overview of migrant Latino/Latina beliefs and practices related to metabolic disorders, birth, and health promotion, in their new environment. The first presentation explores the current status of academic and clinical research regarding Latino Migrant Seasonal Farm Workers, specifically, findings that impact culturally appropriate lifestyle modification, health education, and the nursing management of metabolic disorders. Additionally, this presentation seeks to offer interactive case study examples featuring implementation of culturally appropriate patient education and intervention in this population. The second presentation examines the relationship between acculturation, spiritual/religious and psychosocial factors, and maternal-infant outcomes among sixty-nine Latina mothers in six community clinics with research findings that help explain the Latina birth paradox. The concluding presentation describes the influence of Latino values, beliefs and practices on the health care encounter, and discusses lessons learned from and challenges of conducting qualitative research with Dominican migrants in the New York City area, including use of culturally appropriate interpreters, informed consent, and strategies to recruit participants for the study. Communication etiquette and appropriate planning within the context of a Latino magico-religious belief system is discussed, with examples from case studies and research-based literature.

Learner Objective #1: Identify Latino health beliefs and practices that affect health outcomes and the issues and barriers to designing a study with this population.

Learner Objective #2: Discuss clinical and research implications of Latino/Latina culture, acculturation and general and health-related beliefs and practices.