Haiti Cultural Awareness Update

1. Haiti Cultural Awareness Update Junias Desamour MD

2. Haiti • Location in the Caribbean

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. Pictures of Haiti

8. Pictures of Haiti

9. Pictures of Haiti

10. Pictures of Haiti

11. Pictures of Haiti

12. Pictures of Haiti

13. Pictures of Haiti

14. Pictures of Haiti