{"value"=>"<p> <span class=\"title\">The Problem of Health Care Delivery for Haitian Americans and its Implications for Dance Therapy.</span></p> <p>This paper includes a literature review that covers the history of the Haitian people and the development of their “personality” and cultural behavior. The influence of African culture and religion on their world view is discussed. The importance of Voodoo, an indigenous combination of African Vodun and French Catholicism is explored. Haitian theories of illnesses revolve around spiritual and natural causes. Pressures of acculturation, added to individual and cultural factors, lead to unique problems for the Haitian American immigrant receiving health care. Specific problems to be aware of are: language difficulties; immigration status; attitudes towards authority; shame about illness; fear of hospitalization and racial discrimination.</p> <p>The case study follows the seven sessions of treatment of a middle class Haitian American wife in a private psychiatric setting. Treatment was not as effective as it might have been because cultural assumptions were made about both her symptoms and her family relationships. Treatment recommendations call for an improved awareness of the health care provider's own cultural biases as well as awareness of Haitian American attitudes. Studies show that this increased knowledge improves delivery of health care and leads to more effective treatment. Other recommendations include a more direct approach in counseling and the use of older, respected family and/or community members for support. Dance therapy fits into the mental health care of Haitian Americans quite well because of positive cultural attitudes towards dance. Dance is seen as a sign of well being. Dance therapists should be aware of Haitian American movement patterns.</p>"}