How Health and Illness Practices Affect Nutrition in Jamaica

 

Nutrition

Just like other countries all over the world, most Jamaicans are illiterate when it comes to matters of nutrition. Low food production and overdependence on food imports has led to worrying food insecurity vulnerability. Most of the foods that are consumed in Jamaica are imported either underdone or semi processed for final processing to be done in the country (Henry et al., 2015). The diet of most of the majority of the population has shifted away from the foods that are locally grown to diets that consist of more processed and energy dense foods. These are foods that contain more added sugars, salt and fats which are makes them unhealthy for the population. These new food consumption patterns have led to a shift  in the consumer preferences in regard to nutritionally poor diets and it has led to increase health issues such obesity and other nutritional related non-communicable chronic diseases for instance diabetes, heart diseases, stroke and even some forms of cancers (Higman, 2008).

There is also the issue of cultural beliefs that affect effective nutrition among Jamaicans especially children. Most of the food taboos that are there in the Jamaican culture are linked to child rearing and so children are not given certain food elements that are important for their nutritional values (Henry et al., 2015). One common taboo is that children should not eat chicken before they learn how to speak because it causes them never to talk. There is also the belief that when children eat eggs it will make them grow to become thieves while taking milk from a feeding bottle will make them turn into drunkards when they grow up (Noti, 2015). These beliefs cause the Jamaican people to deprive children from healthy nutritional foods that are important for their growth.

Iron deficiency is a common nutritional deficiency in Jamaica; it is the leading cause of anaemia among children and women. Iron deficiency anaemia in children is estimated to be about 30% which is a result of them taking diets that have low iron bioavailability (Henry et al., 2015). Anaemia is also a major concern among pregnant women in Jamaica where in the year 2011 about half of all pregnant women were anaemic. Early identification and treatment of anaemia is important, women should always be enlightened on the importance of knowing their anaemia status, the effects that anaemia has on them plus their babies and iron rich foods that they should take to increase their iron levels (Noti, 2015).

Most of the Jamaican foods are spicy and most of the people prefer to eat together as a family where table etiquette are of less importance as compared to enjoying the food and the company (Higman, 2008). A common meal in Jamaica includes rice and the red beans that they normally refer to as peas.

Social relativism

Traditional medicines are greatly used among the Jamaicans because most people believe in supernatural forces and any disease that cannot be clearly explained by medical interventions is considered to be as a result of supernatural forces (Picking et al., 2011). A large population has come to accept and adapt modern medicine but there are those who still tend to self-medicate using traditional medicines before seeking the help of a physician. Traditional medicine is mostly use by the people who lack financial resources to visit the hospital (Picking et al., 2011). These people use herbs for instance Epson salt, castor oil, bush tea and papaya juice among others to treat various conditions.

Cultural awareness

Great importance is placed on the sense of duty and responsibility toward the family in Jamaica; women are viewed as the primary providers for the family because the men are considered to be unreliable. Just like in most cultures, marriage is important in Jamaican culture and cohabitation is normally frowned upon because it does not give legitimacy to the children (Demir, 2014). When it comes to burial matters, a wake is held for nine days to respect and honour the departed soul, this time just like in many cultures, the family and friends share food and drinks as they say goodbye to the departed one. Jamaicans have a tendency of burying the umbilical cord of a child after birth on the ground where a plant is planted over the spot which they illustrate help unite the baby and their homeland (Demir, 2014). Christianity is widely practiced in the Jamaican culture and the culture allows for people to wear amulets and charms that are used as adornment.

Conclusion

Jamaicans are rich in cultural traditions and ethnic diversity, Family is important in the Jamaican culture, families are strong and loyal. The society struggles with the issue of nutrition because most they import most of the foodstuff which means that the society mostly consumes processed foods that adversely affect them. Though the Jamaican society has embraced the use of modern medicine, most people are not able to afford it and hence the continued use of traditional medicine. The national motto ‘Out of many, one people’ is a true representation of the diverse Jamaican culture that comes from multiracial roots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Demir, M. (2014). Jamaican Cultural Awareness. Retrieved from

            https://prezi.com/5xdb9hcvcpxi/jamaican-cultural-awareness/

Henry, F., Caines, D., & Eyre, S. (2015). Healthy Eating in Jamaica: The Cost Factor. West

            Indian Medical Journal. doi: 10.7727/wimj.2015.116

Higman, B. W. (2008). Jamaican food: History, biology, culture. Jamaica: University of the

            West Indies Press.

Noti, Y. (2015). Jamaica. Saveur, (177), 60–66. Retrieved from

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hjh&AN=108956577&site=ehost-live

Picking D, Younger N, Mitchell S, Delgoda R. (2011). The prevalence of herbal medicine

home use and concomitant use with pharmaceutical medicines in Jamaica. - PubMed - NCBI. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21645607