Critical thinking, health policy, and the Hmong culture group, Part Ii
Smith, L.
Journal of Cultural Diversity 4(2): 59-67; Quiz 69
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 1071-5568 PMID: 9287599 Document Number: 476784
The Hmong are an Asian cultural group originating primarily in the northern hills of Laos. During the Vietnam conflict, they fought and died for the U.S. during a secret Laotian war. The U.S. gained their support in exchange for protecting them from their enemies in Laos regardless of the war's outcome. When North Vietnam took over Laos, hundreds of thousands of Hmong fled to Thailand's refugee camps; from there, over 100,000 Hmong refugees relocated to the U.S. (Heu, 1996). With them, the Hmong brought culture, language, and healthcare beliefs and rituals, as well as distinct challenges to U.S. communities, policy makers, and healthcare professionals. This article is the second in a two-part series on critical thinking and health policy and the Hmong culture group.