Healthcare Contexts

Colombia has a mix of spiritual and scientific views of healthcare, but all three are present. The indigenous peoples had a very spiritual view of healthcare that remained integrated in the culture through Spanish colonization and beyond. Over time, this perspective has mixed with catholic views on the spiritual aspect of healthcare and today some mix of the two are fairly prevalent throughout Colombia, but especially in the rural areas. 

Before I get too much farther into the topic, I should probably explain what the spiritual and scientific views of healthcare are. The spiritual view of healthcare generally regards illness as a result of some sort of spiritual force. Whether cast by someone else, or a consequence of your actions, the result generally is negated with the help of a spiritual leader, natural remedy, or other action. Within the indigenous religions of Colombia, some ways to counteract health problems include natural plant remedies, wearing amulets for protection, and rituals done by taitas or shamans. Going back to the catholic traditions, I have meet Colombians who take their children with non-treatable conditions to the saints for healing.

The scientific view of healthcare is embodied by the modern hospital. Diseases are looked at as what they do biologically and how they attack the body. And there is no farther consideration as to why issues happen other then as the effect of the disease or the face value event that caused the issue. Care is given based on how to best counteract the effects of the disease or fix the issue. In Colombia, the scientific view of healthcare is much more prevalent in the cities, due to the greater access to hospitals. However, there is a disparity between public and private hospitals, something I have also seen first-hand. 

When it comes to the topic of death and dying, Colombian approach it mainly from the catholic perspective. Most of the ceremonies are dictated by catholic tradition, and the time between death and burial is very quick, within 24 hours. The general order is a wake happens where family and friends can say their final farewells to the deceased, and then a funeral mass, and finally the burial. Dress codes are normally relaxed and there are no taboos about showing emotion during the entire process. Everyone who can possibly attend the events is expected to show up. Death is perceived as difficult, but part of life.

If anyone I knew was planning to join an NGO doing healthcare in Colombia, my main piece of advice for effective communication is to not dismiss the spiritual view of healthcare, as it might upset the patients. Because of the deeply intwined traditional view of health being connected to spirituality, many people believe in other forms of healing that contradict the scientific view. Being able to take this in stride and share possible treatment options without quickly dismissing or degrading their views is important. But if what they are doing, or not doing, is directly hurting the patient, being able to communicate why without offending the patient and their family is even more important.