Care needs of elderly indigenous women with rheumatoid arthritis: A case study, Mexico.
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The sociocultural and economic implications of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are varied, and therefore the impact of RA on older indigenous Mexican women is multifaceted, with significant repercussions on their work, economic, and psychosocial lives. Fatigue, pain, and morning stiffness are common symptoms that limit the ability to perform daily and work activities. This is compounded by the limited access to healthcare institutions that provide diagnosis and treatment with equity and social justice, which is often lacking in indigenous areas. This is a qualitative, descriptive, case study in an indigenous population in southern Oaxaca, where the lack of medical supplies has delayed treatment for various diseases. In this case, the results found for RA in older women are not receiving treatment due to a lack of financial resources. Meanwhile, the care provided at home by daughters and granddaughters, who manage hygiene and nutrition, continues while the disease progresses and culminates in death. The theoretical axes described range from ethnicity, vulnerability, and the ethics of care, as well as the educational leadership required to assist in the comprehensive management of RA patient care and disease prevention in the community as a whole.
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Main Article Content
The sociocultural and economic implications of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are varied, and therefore the impact of RA on older indigenous Mexican women is multifaceted, with significant repercussions on their work, economic, and psychosocial lives. Fatigue, pain, and morning stiffness are common symptoms that limit the ability to perform daily and work activities. This is compounded by the limited access to healthcare institutions that provide diagnosis and treatment with equity and social justice, which is often lacking in indigenous areas. This is a qualitative, descriptive, case study in an indigenous population in southern Oaxaca, where the lack of medical supplies has delayed treatment for various diseases. In this case, the results found for RA in older women are not receiving treatment due to a lack of financial resources. Meanwhile, the care provided at home by daughters and granddaughters, who manage hygiene and nutrition, continues while the disease progresses and culminates in death. The theoretical axes described range from ethnicity, vulnerability, and the ethics of care, as well as the educational leadership required to assist in the comprehensive management of RA patient care and disease prevention in the community as a whole.