Is cleanliness cultural?

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

This thread is a spinoff of the "patient won't shower" thread.

Well you know, you just can't make someone have your standards of hygiene if they don't want them.

...

In lots of cultural settings smells and odors are percieved differently. I am sure you tried your hardest, don't feel a failure, what did you fail at?? Not getting someone into a shower??!!

I think within certain limits we need to be tolerant of cultural differences in hygiene practices (say, once a day vs. once a week), but at what point do you say, sorry, buddy, you got a PROBLEM? Is there any culture in which it's the norm to go weeks without bathing?

[Iam46yearsold]

Im not sure what point you are trying to make here, really.

[VivaRN]

I don't know about weeks but there are definitely cultures where BO is a normal smell and the same clothes are worn every day (due to economic reasons, availability of clean water, labor of washing your own clothes). Everyone does it so it's not a big deal. Just like when you go camping with a group of friends. You are all equally grubby so you don't notice as much... until you drive back into our society.

Most refugee organizations try to include hygiene education so that people will be able to find jobs and acculturate, but it is easier for some groups to adopt than others. We take a lot for granted. Put yourself in the others' shoes - there is a reason for everything, it is not meant to be offensive.

I would never tell anyone from this background they had a "problem" when they are sick and in the hospital. That is terrifying enough, and most likely they need reassurance, touch, and comfort. I have never encountered it more strongly than the smell of BO. Otherwise there may be something else going on, like mental illness.

Keep an open mind and remember that this person is a person just like you.

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

I'm asking whether lack of hygiene is something to be tolerant of on the basis of "cultural differences."

[loricatus]

I have worked with some nurses that were contracted straight from India and it seemed as though they did not use underarm deodorant. They appeared very clean but when raising the arm, the odor was intolerable. I just assumed that this was a cultural thing and did my best to back off whenever the arms would be raised. It was so bad that patients complained. These nurses were in a big culture shock as it was and I didn't want to add to their frustration by mentioning something that may have been against their religious beliefs.

I am curious to know if I was thinking correctly about these women.

[lovehospital]

I have worked with some nurses that were contracted straight from India and it seemed as though they did not use underarm deodorant. They appeared very clean but when raising the arm, the odor was intolerable. I just assumed that this was a cultural thing and did my best to back off whenever the arms would be raised. It was so bad that patients complained. These nurses were in a big culture shock as it was and I didn't want to add to their frustration by mentioning something that may have been against their religious beliefs.

I am curious to know if I was thinking correctly about these women.

You dont really need to use deodorant if you shave your armpits like everyday or every other day...I rather have a shaved armpits than hairy armpits covered with powder...

[lovehospital]

You dont really need to use deodorant if you shave your armpits like everyday or every other day...I rather have a shaved armpits than hairy armpits covered with powder...

I also heard that some brands of powder deodorant can be cancerous.Of course this is a new scientific discovery I came across just recently.

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

Another piece to the puzzle is that some of the foods eaten by different cultures can affect the smell of the body.

I had a roommate in college years ago that was from India. She was a very clean person and bathed regularly, yet I often noticed she had a different body odor. It was very strong and noticable at first if I recall correctly, but I think after a while I just adjusted to it.

How I wish I had spent more time learning about her culture! Talk about missing a great opportunity.

[catshowlady]

You dont really need to use deodorant if you shave your armpits like everyday or every other day...I rather have a shaved armpits than hairy armpits covered with powder...

Shaving is a cultural thing, though, as well. Women do not shave their armpits or legs in some countries.

[lovehospital]

Shaving is a cultural thing, though, as well. Women do not shave their armpits or legs in some countries.

Yup,and also in some cultures women dont take baths just before and after giving birth,I guess you have to respect this uniqueness.

[Iam46yearsold]

I myself would feel like dying if I did not shave certain areas. But that is just me.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Yes, standards of personal hygiene vary with various cultures. Americans are definately, as a whole, obessed with remaining odor free and many consider anything less than a daily shower to be substandard.