Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38217006›Full record

ArticleJournal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine2024

Haitian women in New York City use global food plants for women's health.

Ella T Vardeman, Edward J Kennelly, Ina Vandebroek

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Ella T VardemanThe Institute of Economic Botany, The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY, 10458, USA.
Edward J KennellyPhD Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
Ina VandebroekThe Institute of Economic Botany, The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY, 10458, USA. ina.vandebroek@uwimona.edu.jm.

Funding

Dominican Herbal Medicine: Plants Used for InflammationR21AT001889 · NCCIH · NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN · PI BALICK, MICHAEL J · 2004 to 2006
$545k
Ethnopharmacology of plants used by Haitians in New York City forwomen’s healthF31AT011471 · NCCIH · CUNY GRADUATE SCH AND UNIV CTR · PI VARDEMAN, ELLA · 2022 to 2024
$131k
NCCIH NIH HHS F31 AT011471NCCIH NIH HHS R21 AT001889NIH HHS F31 AT011471NIH HHS R21 AT001889
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite the availability of mainstream biomedical healthcare in New York City (NYC), community-based ethnomedicine practices remain a low-cost, culturally relevant treatment for many immigrants. Previous urban ethnobotany research in NYC has established that several Caribbean communities continue using medicinal plants for women's health after immigration. This study sought to address to what extent: (1) NYC Haitian women continue using medicinal plants for women's health after migration; (2) their plants and the conditions treated were similar to those identified in an earlier survey with NYC immigrants from the Dominican Republic.

methodsThrough an ethnobotanical survey, 100 Haitian women living in NYC and born in Haiti were interviewed about their knowledge of medicinal plants for women's health conditions. Reported species were purchased based on local names in NYC Haitian stores and markets, vouchered, and identified.

resultsNearly all Haitian women (97%) reported using medicinal plants while living in Haiti. Most Haitian women continued using medicinal plants after coming to the USA (83%). The 14% decrease, although significant (z = 3.3; p = 0.001), was mainly due to logistical difficulties with sourcing plants after recent immigration. Popular medicinal plant species reported were primarily global food plants, re-emphasizing the intertwined food-medicine relationship in Caribbean diasporas. Comparison with data from NYC Dominicans identified childbirth and puerperium, gynecological infections, and vaginal cleansing as priority Haitian women's health concerns treated with plants.

conclusionOur findings support the global nature of Caribbean migrant plant pharmacopeia, predominantly centered around food plants and adapted to transnational urban settings. They underscore cultural diversity, dispelling the notion of one uniform traditional knowledge system labeled "Caribbean." The importance of preventative medicine for women's health, particularly the regular consumption of "healthy" foods or teas highlights the role food plants play in maintaining health without seeking treatment for a particular condition. Cross-cultural comparisons with other NYC Caribbean immigrants emphasize the importance of conducting ethnobotanical surveys to ground-truth plant use in the community. Such surveys can also identify culture-specific health priorities treated with these plants. Healthcare providers can leverage these insights to formulate culturally relevant and community-tailored healthcare strategies aligned with Haitian women's health beliefs and needs.

Indexed as

Caribbean PeoplePlants, EdiblePlants, MedicinalFemaleHumansNew York CityWomen's HealthCross-cultural comparisonsEthnobotanical fieldworkHaitiTraditional medicineUrban ethnobotanyWomen’s health

Identifiers

PMID38217006
PMCPMC10785501

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.