Galli N
J Sch Health. 1975 Jan;45(1):10-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1975.tb04458.x.
The problems of poor health among Puerto Ricans today are compounded by their cultural traditions. Many Puerto Ricans still rely on folk medicine to cure their ills. One study by Suchman found that compared with persons of other ethnic groups in New York City, the Puerto Ricans are more suspicious of scientific medical care, tend to use general health services less, have more limited health horizons than any other ethnic group. Aside from the unsophisticated health practices stemming from a knowledge of Puerto Rican folk medicine, the cultural phenomena of spiritualism plays a significant role in retarding the health status of the Puerto Rican. Puerto Ricans who view illness as possession by evil spirits will consult a medium or curandero(a) for treatment instead a physician. The hot and cold theory of disease has a profound influence on the Puerto Ricans' health status. In the attempt to achieve equilibrium of the four body humors, Puerto Ricans will often disregard a physician's advice which does not conform to this theory. Also, machismo, the concept of male dominance and superiority leads to sexual promiscuity, over-population, venereal disease, family breakdown, early marriage, and a variety of health related problems.
如今，波多黎各人健康状况不佳的问题因他们的文化传统而更加复杂。许多波多黎各人仍然依靠民间疗法来治愈疾病。苏克曼的一项研究发现，与纽约市其他族裔群体的人相比，波多黎各人对科学医疗护理更为怀疑，较少使用一般医疗服务，与其他任何族裔群体相比，他们的健康视野更为有限。除了源于波多黎各民间医学知识的不复杂的健康做法外，唯灵论的文化现象在阻碍波多黎各人的健康状况方面也起着重要作用。将疾病视为被恶灵附身的波多黎各人会求助于灵媒或治疗师而不是医生来进行治疗。疾病的冷热理论对波多黎各人的健康状况有着深远的影响。为了实现四种体液的平衡，波多黎各人常常会无视不符合这一理论的医生建议。此外，大男子主义，即男性主导和优越的观念，导致了性滥交、人口过剩、性病、家庭破裂、早婚以及各种与健康相关的问题。
