Culture and Ethnicity
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Transcript Culture and Ethnicity
Culture and Ethnicity
Concepts of Culture and Ethnicity
Culture – a set of values, beliefs & traditions that are held
by a specific social group and handed down from
generation to generation
Subculture – made up of people with a distinct identity, but
who have certain ethnic, occupational or physical
characteristics that are found in the larger culture
Dominant group – the group within the culture that has the
authority to control the value system.
Minority group – usually has some physical or cultural
characteristic that identifies the people within it as different
Ethnicity
The sense of
identification that a
cultural group
collectively has, largely
based on the group’s
common heritage.
Race – Subculture of
people characterized
by specific
characteristics.
Culture
Culture Assimilation
– AKA Cultural acculturation
– When minority groups living within the dominant
group loose the cultural characteristics that
make them different.
– Stereotyping – involves assigning
characteristics to a group of people without
considering specific individuality.
Culture
Cultural Imposition – the belief that
everyone should conform to the majority
belief system.
Cultural conflict – when one ridicules others
beliefs and traditions in an effort to make his
or her own values more secure
Cultural and Ethnic Influences on
Health Care
Gender Roles – It is important to
know who is the dominant figure
in a family
Language and Communication
– Some clients may not be able
to speak the English Language
Orientation to Space and time –
personal space
Food and Nutrition
Socioeconomic
Poverty
The culture of povertythe highest risk
families are headed by
one income single
females, fixed income
elderly and future
generations of those
living in poverty
Characteristics
Feelings of despair, resignation
& fatalism
Day to day attitude toward life
with no hope for the future
Unemployment and need for
financial or government aid
Use of escape values such as
alcohol and drugs
Unstable family structure with
abusiveness and abandonment
Decline in self respect and
retreat from community
Effects of Poverty on Health Care
Lack of affordable and adequate housing
Crowded living conditions
The sick usually experience more
complication
Recovery time is longer
Less likely to regain their preillness level of
functioning
Lack of access to health care insurance
Family Support
Some cultures have large extended families
and are unable to share private information
with anyone outside the family.
Some cultures have great respect for elderly
and will not consider institutional care
Physical and Mental Health
Physiologic Characteristics
– Keloid formation – overgrowth of connective
tissue that occurs during healing process of
injury, surgery—African heritage
– Lactose intolerance 0 lack of lactase to break
down lactose during digestion - Hispanic,
African, Chinese, Thai.
– Sickle Cell Anemia – sickle shaped red blood
cells. Most common in African or
Mediterranean ethnic background.
Continued…
Tay Sacks Disease – a gene for a hereditary disorder – have
very short life span – Eastern European, Jewish descent.
G6PD deficiency – enzyme deficiency. Red blood cells have
no cell membrane they are easily destroyed , which leads
to anemia and increased billirubin levels. - 10% of African
American population
Thalassemia – genetic disorder effecting the Hgb in RBC
function. Mediterranean, Asian, and African origin.
Sarcoidosis – formation of multiple tubercles or nodules on
various parts of the body - African American population.
Gout – An increase of uric acid in the blood -males especially
from Puerto Rican or Filipino descent.
Psychological Characteristics
In most situations an
individual will relate the
behavior of another person
to the individual’s own
familiar culture.
It is important to remember
that what may seem
perfectly reasonable &
important to a client may
seem ridiculous and
irrelevant to a nurse. The
reverse perception may
also exist.
Culture Shock
Feelings an individual
experiences when
placed in a different
and often strange
culture and may result
in psychological
discomfort or
disturbances.
Cultural Imposition and
Ethnocentrism
Cultural Imposition. – the
tendency for health
personnel to impose their
beliefs practices and
values of other cultures,
because they believe that
their ideas are superior.
Ethnocentrism – the belief
that one’s own ideas,
beliefs and practices are
the best and superior.
Providing Transcultural Care
Major Theme – Focus
on caring practices of
various cultures
Nursing Role –
Understand the client’s
needs and to adapt
care to meet those
needs.
Cultural Assessment
Identify factors that effect behavior by
cultural assessment
– Values, religion, dietary practices, family lines of
authority, family life patterns and beliefs and
practices related to health and illness
– See guidelines on pp 47-52
– See table 3-1 on page 46-50
Reaction to Pain
Reactions are
culturally prescribed
……….. Let’s discuss
Different Health Practices
Folk Healers
less expensive, more
accessible and more
understanding of
cultural needs . Speak
the client’s language
Traditional Folk Medicine
Herbs
Transcultural Nursing
Nursing care planned and implemented in a way
that is sensitive to the needs of individuals,
families, and groups representing diverse cultural
populations.
The culture of health care: Assess:
–
–
–
–
the cultural background
expectations and beliefs about healthcare
Cultural context of the encounter
Degree of agreement between the 2 persons set of
beliefs and values