Cultural Diversity in Health Care
Cultural Diversity in Health Care
Heritage Assessment Tool
This tool is a helpful way to evaluate a person as a whole because it reflects on the individual’s cultural background and ethnicity. The questions were focused on how the individual grew up as a child; progressing to adulthood and the age he/she came to the United States. This is a very important question to incorporate in the study matter because it shows how long the individual practiced the kind of culture that he/ she was in. Closeness of family kin is also an important determinant in shaping the individual’s values and behaviors. Having family members around while growing up and having the same religion reinforces the individual’s beliefs, practices, and diets. Religion also plays a role in the community by means of sharing knowledge in accordance with the bible. Holiday celebrations, festivities and church gatherings are avenues that invite family members to share customs and practices. Food preferences and choices also depend on the environment where the individual resides. For example, most Asians were accustomed to eating rice because it is a grain that grows abundant in that part of the world. Native language is also a basis of social identity. An individual is more likely to have more interaction with the same people who speaks the same native language.
Comparisons of Differences in the Meaning of Health
African-American family
Health Maintenance:
In an African perspective, health is seen as harmony of body, mind and soul with nature. Illness happens when the balance is disturbed and a cure is needed to restore this harmony.
Health Protection:
This includes wearing of charms and amulets. This can be a silver dime (believed to turn black if there is impending harm); an amulet of asafetida, which appears like rotten flesh and resembles a dried-out sponge that can be worn around the neck (believed to protect against contagious diseases); and silver bracelets (believed to provide early
Heritage Assessment Tool
This tool is a helpful way to evaluate a person as a whole because it reflects on the individual’s cultural background and ethnicity. The questions were focused on how the individual grew up as a child; progressing to adulthood and the age he/she came to the United States. This is a very important question to incorporate in the study matter because it shows how long the individual practiced the kind of culture that he/ she was in. Closeness of family kin is also an important determinant in shaping the individual’s values and behaviors. Having family members around while growing up and having the same religion reinforces the individual’s beliefs, practices, and diets. Religion also plays a role in the community by means of sharing knowledge in accordance with the bible. Holiday celebrations, festivities and church gatherings are avenues that invite family members to share customs and practices. Food preferences and choices also depend on the environment where the individual resides. For example, most Asians were accustomed to eating rice because it is a grain that grows abundant in that part of the world. Native language is also a basis of social identity. An individual is more likely to have more interaction with the same people who speaks the same native language.
Comparisons of Differences in the Meaning of Health
African-American family
Health Maintenance:
In an African perspective, health is seen as harmony of body, mind and soul with nature. Illness happens when the balance is disturbed and a cure is needed to restore this harmony.
Health Protection:
This includes wearing of charms and amulets. This can be a silver dime (believed to turn black if there is impending harm); an amulet of asafetida, which appears like rotten flesh and resembles a dried-out sponge that can be worn around the neck (believed to protect against contagious diseases); and silver bracelets (believed to provide early
References: World Health Organization. 2002. Acupuncture : Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/pdf/s4926e/s4926e.pdf (accessed Jan. 18, 2013) Medical Spanish.com (2013). Mal de ojo. http://www.medicalspanish.com/cultural-topics/mal-de-ojo.html (accessed Jan 18, 2013) Trotter RT, Chariva JA (1997). Curanderismo.: Mexican American Folk Healing. (pg. 25)