Constructs of health promotion and wellness in a Salvadoran population

Theoretical frameworks are necessary to clarify concepts of health promotion in diverse groups, as nursing interventions must be shaped to fit populations' cultural and health profiles. This study explored health-promoting beliefs and practices of a group of Salvadoran refugees. Data were collected through the use of ethnographic methods, including focused and open-ended interviews as well as participant observations. Four major constructs of health promotion were derived from the literature and used to operationalize the concept of health promotion as a basis for the interview questions; these constructs were nutrition and weight control, exercise and physical fitness, stress management, and social support and help. The 53 subjects described beliefs and practices about health promotion that were relevant in their daily lives. Theoretical constructs, inductively developed from the data, suggested that complex constellations of family, supportive friends, religious affiliations, and work opportunities enhanced well-being. Personal health practices related to fresh air, sleep, and good nutritional practices were deemed important by the informants. Nurses who understand the community and can obtain access to resources and develop individual care strategies within the context of the family are likely to promote wellness and health functioning in this population.