The nature, prevalence, and level of awarenes of "curanderismo" and some of its implications for community mental health.

This study is exploratory research into the nature, prevalence, and level of awareness of curanderismo (Mexican folk psychiatry), and some of its ramifications for community mental health, as perceived by the staff of two community mental health centers serving largely Mexican-American populations on Chicago's south side. The sample interviewed consisted of virtually the entire staff--29 persons in all, 14 from one community mental health center and 15 from the other. Data collection was done individually with a 4-page, 31-question interview, made up of personal-data questions, multiple-choice questions, and open-ended ones.