ABSTRACT

Katelynn Garner

The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of healthcare Providers (HCPs) about the division of relationship power within the Latino culture in Southeastern North Carolina. The theoretical model used to guide the interview questions was developed from the Resource Theory of Relationship Power (Parrado, Flippen & McQuisten, 2005). The framework includes personal resources, social resources, and relationship characteristics as indicators for levels of relationship power. The critical incident technique was used to collect data for this qualitative study. Seven HCPs were interviewed concerning their work and observations with Latinas.

Data analysis revealed two subcategories: cultural issues and power issues in healthcare. The four critical incidents were found within the cultural issues domain include “machismo,” resources, support, and language. Power issues in healthcare were further analyzed for the presence of critical incidents, dependency and decision making were identified.

The findings of the study suggest that HCPs should begin to assess the Latinas as a community rather than as individuals. Research implications for the study include a need to repeat the study interviewing Latinas versus their HCPs and further studies of how traditional gender roles are defined within different regions of Latin America.

The most unique finding is that of the amount of healthcare decision making power that the Latina possesses. Informants suggested that males dominate healthcare decisions and that this decision making process allows males to completely control the health outcomes of the client.