| Purpose. The purpose of this ethnonursing study was to observe and collect data related to the role of the nurse, healthcare beliefs and practices of rural mestizo Ecuadorians.;Background. The current literature regarding Ecuadorian health practices has been limited to the study of indigenous Americo-Indian groups. No studies have been conducted in the mestizo rural setting. Discovering these beliefs and practices will enable nurses and other healthcare workers to provide care that is acceptable, congruent in culture, and health promoting.;Research Design. An ethnonursing method was used to uncover and discover phenomena of interest to nursing. The research questions related to healthcare beliefs, practices, and what constitutes culturally acceptable care within the context of their culture?;Participants. The researcher interviewed 28 general informants.;Informants. The researcher had contact over the past seven years in Tosagua, Ecuador. The familiarity with the residents, local leadership, and fluency in the Spanish language has promoted her acceptance. After obtaining IRB approval from Duquesne University the initial informants were recruited by the gatekeeper then the snowball method was used to recruit additional informants. Participation was voluntary and they were free to withdraw at any time.;Data Collection and Analysis. The Four Phases of Ethnonursing Qualitative Data Analysis and NVIVO8 software was used to manage data.;Results. Eighteen categories were extracted from the raw data of interviews, observation, and field notes. These categories were the meaning of health (la salud), meaning of illness ( la enfermedad), folk and common illnesses (enfermedades comun y folkloricos), folkhealers (curanderos) medicinal plants (plantas naturales), professional healthcare (cuidado professional,) spirituality (la espiritualidad ), environment (el medioambiente), meaning of family (la familia), nutrition (nutricion), exercise (ejercicio), education (educacion), health education (educacion sobre la salud), role of the nurse (papel de la enfermera), politics, and hope for the future (eperanza por el futuro.);Phase three of data analysis is the discovery of patterns of data inherent in the categories related to the DOI. The interviews were conducted until data saturation of patterned meaning in context. Six patterns of data inherent in the categories emerged from this phase are a pattern of belief in God and the power of prayer, valuing self-care and preservation practices, pattern of external factors negatively effecting health, pattern of identified barriers to healthcare, pattern of hope being essential to well-being and health, and pattern of valuing family caring.;From the patterns four themes were teased out and were discussed. The themes are spirituality and prayer are necessary for health and well-being, living in a community with like-minded people positively affects health and well-being, incorporation of traditional medicine with modern medicine is essential to health, and environmental context beyond the people's control greatly affects health and well-being.;Conclusions and Implications. Four substantive themes which were teased out are complex and inter-related. Spirituality and prayer are necessary to maintain health, healing and well-being. Rural mestizo Ecuadorians living in a community with like-minded people positively affects health and well-being. The incorporation of traditional medicine with modern medicine is essential to health. Many external factors beyond the control of the people greatly affect health and well-being. The intertwining thread between all of the themes is hope. The rural mestizo Ecuadorians are buoyed by hope in something better for the future. Their hope lies in the power of God to change their circumstances and the core value of living in community. |
