Italian Sociocultural Assessment

By Kristian Placides

Canada has the sixth largest Italian population. The history of Italian immigration dates back to late 1400s when Giovanni Caboto (better known as John Cabot) first landed on the coast of Newfoundland. However, most Italian Canadians trace their heritage back to the influx of immigrants after the Second World War, when Italians left their war-impoverished country for opportunities in a Canada, where a widespread labour shortage caused by a booming economy after the war made the country receptive to Italian immigration.

History of Italian Immigration in Canada

• Number of Italian Canadians in Canada: 1.3 million• With only Italian heritage: 727,000• With partly Italian heritage: 545,000• Number of Italian Canadians born in Canada: 904,000• Number of Italian Canadians born in Italy who immigrated here:

315,455• Number of immigrants who arrived in Canada before 1961: 47 %• Number of immigrants who arrived between 1961 and 1970: 39

%• Number of immigrants who arrived between 1971 and 1980: 10

%• Number of immigrants who have arrived in Canada since 1981:

6.4 %• People of Italian heritage in Vancouver: 69,000• People of Italian heritage in Toronto: 429,380• People of Italian heritage in Montreal: 225,000

Here are the numbers

Capital: Rome

Ethnic Make-up: Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south)

Religions: predominately Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a

growing Muslim immigrant community

Government: Republic

Currency: Euro €

Language: Italian

Cultural Background

Interactions

Italians are passionate about self expression. They tend to be highly expressive of joy, sadness and grief, both vocally and by overt body gesture. Conversations are spirited, and they gesture frequently with their hand to emphasize a point. A high level of physical contact is considered both natural and normal. The Italian client will expect to be listened to as an equal when discussing symptoms and treatment.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle risk factors are often present in Italians as a result of low exercise patterns. Common problems include overweight (women more than men) and smoking (men).Italian culture places high value on food; Italy is renowed for its cuisine, and meals are important and lengthy events for many Italian families. Additionally, the Italian diet typically consist a high proportion of fatty foods(butter, cheese, cakes, meat, etc.). As a result, a problem in the italian community is the presence of overweight individuals.

Mental Health

Those with mental illness may be stigmatised. Because initially they may be ashamed of their disabled child, and may not use the services available, parents of children with disabilitie s, such as cerebral palsy or mental retardation, may take time to come to terms with the disability. Domestic violence occurs in the Italian as in all communities, but it may be hidden for a long period in order to maintain the family honour.

Utilization ofHealth Services

Being in hospital may be traumatic because of the separation from family and friends, particularly for an older Italian person with difficulties communicating in English, or limited medical knowledge. Hospital admission may be seen as justified only for operations, or dramatic treatments or investigations. Allied health services are often unfamiliar to older Italians, so their purpose needs to be clearly explained.

Health Beliefsand Practices

Italian’s traditional health beliefs includes belief that the cause of illness is a result of contagion or contamination caused by heredity related to supernatural or human causes, related to wind currents that bear diseases, or psychosomatic causes.It is important to make distinction between fresh air and drafts. Fresh air is considered healthy and vital for health maintenance while drafts on the other hand, are a cause of illness. Ventilation on patient’s room and home is valued, but avoidance of drafts is essential.Supernatural causes of illness include the “evil eye” and curses (castiga). The severity of the illness is related to supernatural causes with causes resulting in most serious or even fatal medical problems. Curses are caused by God or sent by evil person or seen as punishment for sins or other bad behavior.

Health Beliefsand Practices (cont’d)

Emotions need to be released, which is one of the explanation for the animation associated with Italian culture. Keeping emotions bottled up is unhealthy , and if an outlet for the release is not found , serious consequence will result.

Health Beliefsand Practices (cont’d)

In the past, tonic injections were sometimes given intramuscularly by lay people in Italy. Intramuscular medicine is still seen as superior to oral medicationin many cases. Traditional Italian health concepts derived from humoral medicine. However, except for the older Italian people, community attitudes and knowledge about health issues are not greatly different from the mainstream.

Italians do not always use the services for the elderly, and there are low nursing home admission rates. Italians often expect to be cared for by their children in their old age. The care for the elderly usually falls on the women of the family. Older Italians may not speak English, or find it harder to remember the new language as they get older. They may be frustrated and isolated by the younger generation’s inability to speak Italian. Family members who act as interpreters may not pass on all the information to the elderly, especially if bad news is conveyed. In addition, older Italians are unlikely to be able to access information themselves, even if presented in Italian, as they may have had little education or have poor eyesight for reading.

Health Care of the Aged

Women’s Health

Awareness of women’s health issues among older Italianmigrant women is poor, with low rates of women having a Pap test, breast examination or a mammogram, or evenhaving heard of these screening measures. They may only seek services for serious illness, not for screening. Younger women have more knowledge of these issues and use mainstream health services. Girls used to be closely chaperoned once they reached puberty. However, in recent decades, young people have become more independent, moving away from the family home before marriage.

Young women

There is social/peer pressure from outsidethe Italian community for young women tobe slim. However, there is pressure withinItalian families to eat as part of socialoccasions, and not eating can be seen asrejection of the Italian culture. The youngItalian woman gains no support for dieting,as a bit of extra weight is seen as a sign ofgood health. Meals and weight can becomea cause of tension in the family.

Older women

Menopause may be perceived as a timewhen body functioning slows, causingvulnerability to a range of diseasesincluding cancer. Often minor ailments areattributed to the effects of the menopause.

BELIEFS

The evil eye is a look that is believed to be able to cause injury or bad luck for the person at whom it is directed for reasons of envy or dislike. The term also refers to the power attributed to certain persons of inflicting injury or bad luck by such an envious or ill-wishing look. The evil eye is usually given to others who remain unaware. Babies are the most vulnerable to the curse. For this reason, Italian mothers are always vigilant when someone pays their baby a compliment. They will make the fig sign to ward off the evil eye. If you want to compliment a baby, add the words “sensa malocchio” or“without the evil eye”. Another gesture to remedy the evil eye is to make the sign of the horns. This gesture transfers the bad luck to someone else.

The numbers 13 and 17 for the Italians are unlucky. To dream about the number 29 is considered lucky.

Bread is most revered by the Italians for it symbolizes the Body of Christ. However old and moldy the bread is they kiss it before throwing it.

Regarding colors, purple and black signifies death and misfortune. This colors are only worn when mourning.

To see a nun is bad luck. To counter the bad luck Italians touches iron immediately. For this purpose they carry a nail in their pocket or purse.

Men must never give their wives or girlfriends a gift of perfume. If they do, they risk attracting a more handsome rival who will steal their beloved away forever.To avoid bad luck, Italian gypsies never steal pearls, coral, or silver.

Family

Family provides strength, helps with coping with stresses, and provides sense of continuity. The man is the head of the household and female is considered to provide the heart of the family.Italian families maintain strong bond over generations. Children maintain their strong relationship with their parents. Their relationship display strong reciprocal support and exchanges including child care, care of the elderly and ill, help with economic troubles, loans and advice. Decisions are often discussed amongst family. The parents are often sought for their advise with important decisions throughout life including decisions about healthcare .

Faith and Spirituality

Most Italians are devout Christians. The two major practices are honoring the Saints’ Days throughout “feste” (feast) and the celebrations of sacraments especially marriage through banquets.In daily life, the influence of Catholisism can be seen in a strong family values. The majority of Italians are opposed to divorce, abortion and artificial contraception.A priest is also involved with the spiritual aspect of caring for a patient so it is imperative to offer their services if needs be.So as nurses when we deal with patients with Italian heritage, it important to respect their decision with their health care and don’t push them to make a decision that will contradict with their belief.

Food

Food is essential part of Italian life. The well known Italian dishes are pasta and pizza.Breakfast is around 7am, lunch is around 1pm, and dinner is served late at around 8 to 9 pm.A large family meal is customary in Italian households. The meals are relaxed affairs with several courses and often accompanied by wine.

Sports

Sports play an important part of daily life. Some of the most popular Italian sports include soccer, cycling, Formula One racing, and basketball.

References:• Berrenson, L.D. Cultural Competencies for Nurses

Impact on Health and Illness• Italian community has deep roots in Canadahttp://canadianimmigrant.ca/community/italian-community-has-deep-roots-in-canada• Italy - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquettehttp://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/italy-country-profile.html• Italianshttp://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/italians• How to avoid getting ‘hit by air’ in Italyhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15987082• Favor, L.J. (2004) Italy A Primary Source Cultural Guide