South Texas

Approximately 1,000 children from Hidalgo County will be taking part in a study, sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, along with several other federal agencies. Women who are pregnant, or going to become pregnant will be chosen for the study, which will examine social and environmental factors (such as diet, pollutants, and poverty) on the children’s health and development. The children will be followed from their time in the womb until their 21st birthday.

“The goal of the study is to get a handle on all aspects of pregnancy and childhood….that includes biological, phyiscal, chemical and social factors.” according to Dr. Daniel Hale, an investigator with the study and pediatrics professor at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Will easier access to health care affect the use of complementary and alternative medicine in the Valley?  With changing health care reform, only time will tell whether it will have an effect on the use of folk healers among the Valley population.  While some may use Curanderismo because they can’t afford conventional treatment, others choose this method of treatment because they don’t trust conventional doctors, or because of tradition.  Still many, according to Albert Salinas, a curandero in Edinburg, see clients who use Curanderismo in conjunction with conventional treatments.  Complementary use of the traditional healing arts may be the best way to take advantage of modern medicine while not abandoning one’s beliefs.   According to Antonio Zavaleta, director of the Texas Center for Border and Translational Studies at the University of Texas-Brownsville, “We don’t want to discourage people from visiting curanderos.  We only want them to stop if we see they are being harmed”.