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Medical Pluralism in the Use of Sobadores among Mexican Immigrants to North Carolina

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health volume 20, pages 1197–1205 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Mexican immigrants have a rich history of traditional healers. This analysis describes the conditions for which Mexican immigrants seek treatment from sobadores, and delineates factors that influence seeking treatment from a sobador or a biomedical doctor. This systematic qualitative analysis uses interview data collected with 24 adult Mexican immigrants to North Carolina who had been treated by a sobador in the previous 2 years. Immigrants are engaged in medical pluralism, seeking care from sobadores and biomedical doctors based on the complaint and patient’s age. Using a hierarchy of resort, adults seek treatment from sobadores for musculoskeletal pain not involving a fracture. Doctors are first consulted when treating children; sobadores are consulted if doctors do not provide culturally appropriate treatment. Mexican immigrants seek care that addresses their culturally determined health concerns. The need to improve access to culturally competent biomedical health care for vulnerable immigrant populations continues.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a Grant from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (R21 AT007255).

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA

    Joanne C. Sandberg, Dana C. Mora & Thomas A. Arcury

  2. Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA

    Sara A. Quandt

  3. Graham Chiropractic PLLC, 1300 Ashley Square, Winston-Salem, NC, 27103, USA

    Alan Graham

  4. UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Sykehusveien 23, 9037, Tromsø, Norway

    Trine Stub

Authors
  1. Joanne C. Sandberg
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  2. Sara A. Quandt
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  3. Alan Graham
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  4. Trine Stub
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  5. Dana C. Mora
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  6. Thomas A. Arcury
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joanne C. Sandberg.

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The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Sandberg, J.C., Quandt, S.A., Graham, A. et al. Medical Pluralism in the Use of Sobadores among Mexican Immigrants to North Carolina. J Immigrant Minority Health 20, 1197–1205 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-017-0660-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-017-0660-y

Keywords

  • USA
  • Traditional healer
  • Folk medicine
  • Healthcare
  • Manual therapy
  • Integrative medicine
  • Immigrant health
  • Minority health
  • Health disparities