| Learning Objective #1: Identify the meaning of health and well-being among rural Nicaraguan men | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Identify self-care behaviors of rural Nicaraguan men |
Nicaragua is cited by Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) as one of the poorest third world countries. The life expectancy for males is 66 and for females 71 years. In the rural areas, life expectancy is almost 10 years lower. The overall mortality rate estimated for Nicaragua during the period of 1990 – 1995 was 10%, which is higher than the Latin American average of 7%. The mission of the Ministry of Health is to ensure that the population has access to health services that respond to their real and perceived needs and that the emphasis be on health promotion and illness prevention. According to Nicaragua’s health care plan, health care priorities should continue to be assigned to women and children and greater attention to adolescents and the elderly. Currently, men’s health is not addressed as part of the national health plan. The purpose of this ethnographic dissertation is to understand and describe the meaning of health and well-being from the emic viewpoint of rural Nicaraguan men. The research questions were: 1) How do rural Nicaraguan men define health and well-being? 2) What variables influence health and well-being of rural Nicaraguan men?, and 3) What are the self-care behaviors of rural Nicaraguan men related to health and well-being? Data were collected utilizing field notes, participant-observation, and semi-structured audio-taped interviews until saturation was reached. Data were translated and analyzed qualitatively yielding domains, categories, subcategories, and cultural themes. The results of this study will add to the knowledge base for nurses and other health care providers caring for Nicaraguan men. The clinical implications are that development of a data base specific to Nicaraguan men will provide cues and clues for the health care provider. This will ultimately enhance the care of Nicaraguan men not only in Nicaragua but globally.
Back to Men's Health
Back to 14th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
10-12 July 2003