Culture Care ConneCtion - Stratis Health

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StratiS HealtH Culture Care Quality ConneCtion update Culture Care Focus: Asian Indians in Minnesota The Asian Indian population in the U.S. grew from nearly 1,679,000 in 2000 to 2,570,000 in 2007, a growth rate of 53 percent—the highest growth rate for any Asian American community in the country. The U.S. has the second largest population of Asian Indians outside of India in the world (2,765,000), second to Nepal. In 2006, the Asian Indian population in Minnesota was more than 30,000. Second only to Hmong, Asian Indians are the second largest Asian community in Minnesota. Immigration of Asian Indians to America has taken place in several waves, in the 1700s, the early 1900s, and the 1950s (mainly students and professionals). The elimination of immigration quotas in 1965 prompted successively larger waves of Indian immigrants in the 1970s and 1980s, and with the technology boom of the 1990s, the largest influx of Asian Indians arrived between 1995 and 2000. This population is among the fastest growing ethnic groups in the U.S. and is the third largest Asian American ethnic group, following Chinese and Filipino Americans. California, New York, New Jersey, Texas, and Illinois have the largest Asian Indian populations in the country. Although the U.S. Census has used the term Asian Indian for immigrants who came to America from India, the terms East Indian and South Asian are also commonly used terms for this population. Asian Indians also have emigrated from Indian communities 2 2 in the United Kingdom, Canada, and other Southeast Asian nations. English is the official language of India and is spoken by most professionals and educated immigrants in the U.S. They may also speak one or more of 20 languages with more than 200 dialects. Language often identifies their place of origin. Common languages spoken by Indians include Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Marthi, Punjabi, and Urdu. Indians in Minnesota represent diverse cultures, traditions, customs, and languages. In India, nearly 83 percent of Indians are Hindus. Indians are also Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsis, Christian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian. Hindus worship many gods and goddesses in a temple or at home and read from the holy scriptures (Vedas). Although legally abolished for many years, the caste system still influences social relations in India. The caste system is a hierarchy of four social classes: Brahmins (priest class), Kshatriyas (warrior class), Vaishyas (merchant class), and Sudras (laborer class). Individuals inherit their class from parents and believe that birth in a particular caste is predetermined by karma from previous lives. This population assimilates well into American culture, while at the same time, keeping the culture of their ancestors. They may assimilate more easily than other immigrant groups because they have fewer language barriers: English is widely spoken in India among professional classes, Indians are disproportionately well-educated, and they come from a democratic society. Indian culture, like many other Asian cultures, emphasizes achievement as a reflection upon the family and community. Younger persons often use titles to show respect, especially when greeting parents, older relatives, teachers, religious leaders, and persons of higher status Indians and other Asians, have the highest educational qualifications of all ethnic groups in the US. Nearly 67 percent of the population have a bachelor’s or higher degree (compared to 28 percent nationally). Nearly 40 percent have a master’s, doctorate, or other professional degree—five times the national average. A Duke University/University of California Berkeley study revealed that Indian immigrants have founded more engineering and technology companies in the past 15 years than immigrants from the United Kingdom, China, Taiwan, and Japan combined. One-third of the engineers in Silicon Valley are of Indian descent, with 7 percent of hi-tech firms led by Indian CEOs. Although a diverse community, the Indian community in Minnesota is well established and represented by a variety of organizations that support and promote its members. SEWA- AIFW was created in 2004 to serve and promote total family wellness for
StratiS HealtH Culture Care Quality ConneCtion update Culture Care Focus: Asian Indians in Minnesota Indians in Minnesota. With culturally trained volunteers, it has programs designed to meet the needs of the Indian community. SEWA means, “to serve” in Hindi. The India Association of Minnesota (IAM) is a nonprofit organization whose aim is to build a strong and cohesive community of Indians in Minnesota. It seeks to build a sense of identity and community, and serve as the focal point for advancing the educational and cultural interests of the Indian community. IAM sponsors and conducts community service activities in Minnesota and provides a forum for community members to gather. It seeks to demonstrate the community’s good citizenship and commitment to the values of a pluralistic society. Diet The cuisine of India is characterized by the use of spices, herbs, vegetables, and fruits, and a wide assortment of dishes that varies from region to region, reflecting the varied demographics of a large, ethnically diverse country. India’s religious beliefs and culture, as well as exposure to the foods of Greece, the middle east, and Asia have influenced its cuisine. Hinduism encourages a vegetarian diet. Staples include rice, whole wheat flour, red lentils, peas, and seeds. Most Indian curries are cooked in peanut, mustard, soybean, or coconut oil. The most frequently used Indian spices are tumeric, chili pepper, black mustard seed, cumin, ginger, coriander, cinnamon, clove, and garlic. Popular spice mixes are garam masala and goda masala. In southern India, a banana leaf is used as a plate for festive occasions. When hot food is served on banana leaves it adds a particular aroma and flavor to the food. Food is most often eaten using two fingers of the right hand, with bread, such as naan, puri, or roti, to scoop the curry without letting it touch the hands. Pan, or beetle leaves, are often chewed after a meal to aid digestion. Medical Care Indians tend to accept and respect most Western medical practices, including regular exams, screening procedures, transfusion, and surgery, although they may prefer to receive blood from persons in their own family or religion. Along with western medical practice, Indian immigrants may also use faith and spiritual healing, including ritual acts and reciting charms, and the belief that yoga eliminates certain physical and mental illnesses. Hindus and Sikhs believe that disease is due to karma, the result of one’s actions in past lives. They may also attribute illness to body imbalances, which create toxins that can accumulate in weaker areas of the body, resulting in conditions such as arthritis. Many older Indian immigrants use folk remedies before consulting a physician, relying on spices and herbs for cold, congestion, and heart problems. Remedies may include turmeric paste as an antiseptic, ginger and lime juice for stomach ache, and buttermilk stored in an iron utensil for anemia. Indians in the U.S. tend to have a high prevalence and risk of coronary artery disease, three times as high as the general U.S. population. Type 2 diabetes also is common, due to hypertension and a genetic resistance to insulin. end of life Hindus and Sikhs believe in reincarnation—the body dies, but the soul is immortal. When death is imminent, the father, husband, or other responsible person decides whether to tell the patient and informs all relatives and friends. Indians strongly prefer death to take place at home, where they may perform religious rituals. Among Hindus and Sikhs, the body is washed by close family members, dressed, and prepared for cremation. Hindus save ashes of the cremated body until they can be thrown into the Ganges, a sacred river in India. Organ donation and autopsy are unacceptable to many Hindu, Sikh, and Christian Indians.
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Culture Care ConneCtion - Stratis Health

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