National Network for Equitable Library Service

What happens when health care providers meet patients whose religious views contrast with mainstream health practices? This book focuses on a unique religious group, the Low German Mennonites, to examine ways in which beliefs and practices influence members’ interactions with the health care system. Drawing on nearly twenty years of research, Judith Kulig presents a meticulous account and vivid illustration of the influence of religion on a community’s conceptions of health and illness, women’s health, death and dying, and mental health. She argues that health care providers must acknowledge and respectfully inquire about a patient’s beliefs in order to implement care and treatment. Kulig shows that trust and understanding are key to providing appropriate and equitable health care.