Muslim Culture
Cultural Assessment of the Muslim Population in the United States
Jordan Wooten
The University of Northwestern State in Shreveport
Abstract
The Muslim American culture varies slightly from the rest of the Muslim population around the world. Muslim Americans view religion as less important than other Muslim groups, along with becoming more independent of the family as a whole. The majority of the Muslim American culture can be defined in several categories such as Bio-cultural variations and cultural aspects of the incidence of disease, communication, cultural affiliation, cultural sanctions and restrictions, developmental considerations, value placed on education, health beliefs and practices, family and kinship systems, nutrition, religious beliefs and practices, and values orientation.
Cultural competency is essential to bringing the highest quality care to diverse patients. According to Andrews and Boyle (as cited by the Office of Minority Health, 2001) cultural competency refers to “the ability of health care providers and organizations to understand and respond effectively to the cultural and linguistic needs of patients” (p. 213). Perhaps the most scrutinized and misunderstood culture group in the United States, due to recent tragic events and ongoing disputes between the United States and several Middle-East countries, is the Muslim culture; Andrews and Boyle (2012) point out that a follower of Islam is known as a Moslem or Muslim, and that the current North American population of Muslims is approximately 6-7 million people. It is unfortunate, but our society is quick to judge a book by its cover. In becoming more culturally competent, the stereotyping begins to diminish, which gives patients better quality care.
Bio-cultural Variations and Cultural Aspects of the Incidence of Disease There are a number of socioenvironmental conditions more common in the Muslim culture than in others. According to Loue (2011) there is an
Jordan Wooten
The University of Northwestern State in Shreveport
Abstract
The Muslim American culture varies slightly from the rest of the Muslim population around the world. Muslim Americans view religion as less important than other Muslim groups, along with becoming more independent of the family as a whole. The majority of the Muslim American culture can be defined in several categories such as Bio-cultural variations and cultural aspects of the incidence of disease, communication, cultural affiliation, cultural sanctions and restrictions, developmental considerations, value placed on education, health beliefs and practices, family and kinship systems, nutrition, religious beliefs and practices, and values orientation.
Cultural competency is essential to bringing the highest quality care to diverse patients. According to Andrews and Boyle (as cited by the Office of Minority Health, 2001) cultural competency refers to “the ability of health care providers and organizations to understand and respond effectively to the cultural and linguistic needs of patients” (p. 213). Perhaps the most scrutinized and misunderstood culture group in the United States, due to recent tragic events and ongoing disputes between the United States and several Middle-East countries, is the Muslim culture; Andrews and Boyle (2012) point out that a follower of Islam is known as a Moslem or Muslim, and that the current North American population of Muslims is approximately 6-7 million people. It is unfortunate, but our society is quick to judge a book by its cover. In becoming more culturally competent, the stereotyping begins to diminish, which gives patients better quality care.
Bio-cultural Variations and Cultural Aspects of the Incidence of Disease There are a number of socioenvironmental conditions more common in the Muslim culture than in others. According to Loue (2011) there is an
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