Study of Intra and Inter-Cultural Variation in Beliefs with a Focus on Folk Illness

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This project involves four comparative case studies of illness beliefs. The researchers will study how local groups conceptualize a range of "traditional" illnesses in Guatemala, Mexico, among Mexican-Americans in Texas, and Puerto Ricans in Connecticut. Using a model of cultural consensus to compare beliefs within and between sites, the project will advance our theoretical and methodological understanding of how local groups share "folk" knowledge of illness. This research is important because the Hispanic segment of US society is growing faster than any other group. Increased understanding of folk knowledge and beliefs about disease will be useful to health care providers. The project will also contribute to our general understanding of how knowledge is shared in small groups.