This area, rich in culture and tradition, is home to a mostly Hispanic/Latino population. If you have never visited a place like the lower RGV, you may experience quite a culture shock by the largely Spanish speaking population, raspa stands at every corner, overcrowded flea markets, local independent fruterias selling out of the back of their trucks, and the blasting of Tejano music from homes, cars, and shops. Another thing to note is that the lower RGV has also been recognized as one of the poorest regions in America with an average income per household of $32, 000 according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

We are considered a border region, which means that yes, we are also a population living in unity with immigrants. If you search the lower RGV, you may see the big news sources painting us a violent stricken region surrounded by drug cartels and “illegal immigrants” wreaking havoc on the rest of us. And while there may be a minuscule of truth provided by those news sources, my personal experience living in the RGV, similar to others who live here, has been a pleasant and humbling upbringing.

My heart is here. I received my undergraduate degree at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley located in Brownsville, Texas. My university was located right along a border wall separating the U.S. and Matamoros, Mexico where students would often bounce back and forth across the border check point to attend classes in the U.S. or to just enjoy some of the best Mexican street tacos you can find. My decision to stay close to home to pursue my education was made largely in part for my need to stay close to my family. The lower RGV community values family and interdependence. While some who venture off into larger cities outside of the RGV may view this cultural value as cycle of submissiveness, I took it as an opportunity to save money, receive an education, and stay close to the people who continue to support me every day.

Currently, there is a lack of representation in healthcare for areas like the lower Rio Grande Valley. Speaking from an occupational therapy perspective and as a self-identified Latina who was born and raised in the RGV, I feel it is my duty to bring awareness to this area as it continues to grow. With growth in any area comes a greater need for resources, especially healthcare. Given the brief background of the RGV community, culturally sensitive practice and healthcare solutions must be explored within this region to provide best practice occupational therapy services and comprehensive care.

The lower RGV community harbors deeply embedded, non-traditional healthcare practices and beliefs that may not be understood by therapists who are new to the area. For example, a common alternative medicine practice called curanderismo is prominent in the RGV area. Usually performed by a trusted older individual, curanderismo practices use a folk healing system believed to cure and prevent evil energies that may result in illness or disease. Attitudes about health also need to be considered within this population. From experience and general understanding of my own culture, Hispanics/Latinos living in the RGV, especially the older generation, typically don’t believe in mental health problems. Instead, they attribute any type of mental instability to a phenomenon called ataque de nervios or nerve attack. Other common beliefs and attitudes may include concepts like machismo, interdependence over independence, distaste for keeping family members in nursing homes, distrust in healthcare professionals, language barriers, religious/spiritual beliefs, and previous experiences with healthcare services.

In addition to cultural beliefs and attitudes, factors such as income, geographical location, access to resources, education, nutrition, and communication attribute to the health disparities found in the RGV. Two of the most prevalent health conditions, posing a direct relationship with one another, in the RGV are diabetes and obesity. With an estimated population of 1,170,776, the diabetes prevalence rate in the RGV is 26%. As the occupational therapy profession in the U.S. hopes to expand their scope of practice into preventative care and with an emphasis on culturally sensitive practice, the RGV, lacking in healthcare resources and data, could help spearhead the profession in highlighting its value in prevention and chronic disease management.

In a population of approximately 1.3 million, there are 308 listed occupational therapists and 374 occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) practicing in the lower Rio Grande Valley.

The need for occupational therapy practitioners in the lower RGV is growing rapidly. Given the exploration and identification of health disparities within the region, occupational therapists are equipped with the skills to provide prevention, education, and rehabilitation to  the RGV. The RGV continues to expand and as the population of all ages increases overtime, the demand for culturally competent therapists will increase to meet the needs of a culturally diverse area.

As a part of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Vision 2025, Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity are grouped as an essential pillar in the occupational therapy profession.  AOTA has highlighted multicultural interest groups such as Terapia Ocupacional para Diversidad Oportunidad y Solaridad (TODAS) Network of Hispanic Practitioners to help facilitate the exploration of occupational therapy careers for Hispanics and Latinos, and to promote diversity, inclusion, and multiculturalism in OT. There is clear opportunity for occupational therapy practitioners to provide their expertise and understanding of culturally sensitive practice within the lower RGV. While there is still much to explore about the area, culture, beliefs, and attitudes, the community of the RGV can benefit immensely from increased access to occupational therapy services.

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American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). (2018). Academic Programs 2017-2018 annual data report. Retrieved from https://www.aota.org/~/media/Corporate/Files/EducationCareers/Educators/2017-2018-Annual-Data-Report.pdf

American Occupational Therapy Association. (n.d.) Retrieved June 15, 2020, from https://www.aota.org/Practice/Manage/Multicultural/TODOS.aspx

American Occupational Therapy Association. (n.d.). Retrieved June 15, 2020, from https://www.aota.org/Publications-News/AOTANews/2020/Diversity-Inclusion-Task-Force.aspx

Cohen, J. (2013, January 21). Rio Grande Valley Tops List of “America’s Poorest Cities”. Retrieved June 15, 2020, retrieved from https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/rio-grande-valley-tops-list-of-americas-poorest-cities/

Texas Department of State Health Services. (n.d.). Occupational Therapists, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2020, retrieved from https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/chs/hprc/tables/2010/10OT.aspx

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. (n.d.). Retrieved June 15, 2020, from https://www.utrgv.edu/bho/diabetes-registry/statistics/index.htm