Distrust Factor Among Specialized Populations

Deborah Gloria

HLT-205

February 23, 2013

Dr. Michael Rothrock

Distrust Factor Among Specialized Populations

Trust is the obligation or responsibility imposed on a person. By the same token distrust is to

regard as untrustworthy or regard with suspension, to have no faith or confidence in. To build

positive patient-provider relationships, recruiting and retaining patients for research projects, and

work effectively with communities trust is essential. Distrust comes from “historical trauma”,

and “intergeneration wounding” imposed on various minority populations (Kosoko-Lasasi,

Cook, & O, 2009)

One example of “intergeneration wounding” to American Indians was genocidal

extermination by policies developed by the U.S. During this time it was believed that “the only

good Indian was a dead Indian” (Saunders, 2008). Blankets were infested with small pox,

mumps, measles and influenza. These blankets were given to the American Indians as a gift of

of peace. American Indians immune systems could not fight these diseases. In addition, a

bounty system was created to foster elimination of the “Indian Problem”, encouraging the killing

of the Indians. When killed the body was brought to a specialized designated area and a bounty

was paid. If there was no body that could be recovered, then the scalp was brought in and was

paid for. The extermination was a dreadful period for the American Indian and its effects

came in the form of intergeneration posttraumatic stress disorder. (Sanders, 2008).

They encountered “historical trauma” in the 1950’s where many American Indian women

Were sterilized by the Indian Health Services. Women neither consented nor did their parents

to this procedure. Although this is a reliable form of birth control, this procedure was considered

abuse and silenced the American Indian women to silence them with fear and shame. The

women did not speak out for fear of losing their services with the Indian Health...