Overview
Representing a different culture and having a range of specific traditions, African Americans also have their concept of nursing. When it comes to defining the key social characteristics of the target demographics, one must mention the very close connection between the family members and the overall concept of family support as the basis for the African American culture. Herein the key nursing strategies must be rooted in; family support must be integrated into the intervention and the nursing process.
Demographic
Even though African American population is traditionally referred to as “minority,” researches show that, with the current population growth rates in mind, the term “minority” will soon no longer make any sense (Minority population growth — The new boom, 2012), seeing that the percentage of African American people among the U.S. citizens is getting increasingly large. According to the latest data, the African American residents of the U.S. make up around 14.1% of the total U.S. population, estimating to a 45,003,665 total (2013 black population: 45 million, 14.2% of the USA, 2013). As far as the growth rates are concerned, the specified phenomenon can be defined as a 6% increase compared to the data received in 2010.
Health Care Practices
As has been stressed above, the African American community is marked by its appreciation of family ties. Consequently, the nursing and healthcare practices commonly presuppose family members’ involvement in the process of the patient’s intervention, treatment, and recovery. Additionally, the African American healthcare culture incorporates the concept of respect for elders (Health care for African American patients/families, 2011).
Risk Behaviors
Over the past year, a rather disturbing tendency for the African American people to adopt the behavioral patterns that trigger sexual risk has been spotted (Danielson et al., 2014). The specified feature of the African American patients is typically characteristic of adolescent girls and young women (Danielson et al., 2014). The problem in question, in its turn, stems from several other health issues, which are typical for the target denizens of the U.S. population, including substance misuse and stress (Danielson et al., 2014).
Genetic Susceptibility to Chronic Conditions
Recent observations of the African American population and their susceptibility to certain conditions based on their genetic predisposition have shown that the target population is vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease; moreover, the prevalence of APOE-4 has been identified among African American patients (Cooper, 2004).
Nutrition
Because of a consistent presence of fast food in the diet of African Americans, the latter is under a threat of developing hypertension and obesity. In addition, statistics show that 2,700,000 African Americans over 20 suffer from diabetes (African-American health and nutrition issues, 2015).
Spirituality
The African American culture is often recognized as highly spiritual. Indeed, 89% of African Americans belong to a certain religious confession (A religious portrait of African-Americans, 2009). In addition, a range of religious traditions are kept and followed carefully by the specified denizens of the American population; consequently, African American people can be viewed as highly spiritual. Studies show that the given characteristics often make the patient refuse from following the nurse’s instructions if the latter contradict the patient’s spiritual beliefs (Zhang, Gary & Zhu, 2013).
Death Rituals
As far as the funeral traditions of the African American population are concerned, there are very few differences between them and the ones that the rest of the American people follow. Among the most characteristic features, flower girls and nurses as mourners need to be mentioned (African American funeral service rituals, 2015).
Reference List
2013 black population: 45 million, 14.2% of USA. (2013). Black Demographic. Web.
A religious portrait of African-Americans. (2009). Pew Research Center. Web.
African American funeral service rituals. (2015). Web.
African-American health and nutrition issues. (2015). Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Web.
Cooper, R. S. (2004). Genetic factors in ethnic disparities in health. In Norman B. Anderson, Randy A. Bulatao, & Barney Cohen (Eds.), Critical perspectives on racial and ethnic differences in health in late life (269–309). Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences. Web.
Danielson, C. M., Walsh, K., McCauley, O., Ruggiero, K. J., Brown, J. L, Sales, J. M.,…&. DiClemente, R. J. (2014). HIV-related sexual risk behavior among African American adolescent girls. Journal of Women’s Health, 23(5),413–419. Web.
Health care for African American patients/families. (2011). Dimensions of Culture. Web.
Minority population growth — The new boom. (2012). Web.
Zhang, A. Y., Gary, F., & Zhu, H. (2013). Initial evidence of religious practice and belief in depressed African American cancer patients. Open Nursing Journal, 7(1), 1–5. Web.