The ethno‐market theory: Factors influencing childbearing health practices of northern Louisiana black women

Black women in northern Louisiana either follow the folk beliefs taught to them by elder, follow the prescriptions of the dominant health culture, or balance the advice of these two groups. We discovered that their decisions about which health system they will use are influenced by three factors: the respect‐fear process that includes the respect shown them by the professional as opposed to the fear they have of breaking traditional taboos; testing consisting of trying out new health prescriptions; and cultural interaction, that is, the amount and kind of interaction they have had with the dominant culture.