1.2b The Family in a Cultural Context

Question 1

Culture of an Individual

Answer 1

• Includes religion, environment and historic events.

- Essential element that defines people

Question 2

Cultural Knowledge

Answer 2

• Beliefs, values and attitudes
• Politics, social, and economic context
• Shared belief and values of a group
• Has a direct effect on health behavior
• Influences perception of illness and healthcare seeking behavior

Question 3

Sub-culture

Answer 3

• A group existing within a larger cultural system

Question 4

Acculturation

Answer 4

• Changes that occur when groups of cultures come in contact with each other
• People retain certain cultures and adopt new cultures

Question 5

Assimilation

Answer 5

• Cultural group loses its cultural identity and becomes part of the dominant culture

Question 6

Ethnocentrism

Answer 6

• The view that one’s own way is best

Question 7

Cultural Relativism

Answer 7

• Learning and applying standards of another culture’s activities within that culture

Question 8

Cultural Relativism and Nursing

Answer 8

• People from different cultures comprehend the same objects or situations differently
• Culture determines viewpoint
• Nurses do not need to accept other people’s beliefs but recognize that behavior of others system of logic can be different from their own
• Affirms uniqueness and value of each culture.

Question 9

Strategies for Delivering Care

Answer 9

• Breakdown language barrier
• Explain rationale for suggestions
• Integrate folk and western treatment
• Enlist family caretaker and others
• Get consent from the right people
• Provide language appropriate material

Question 10

Providing Culturally Appropriate Care

Answer 10

• Ask about traditional beliefs such as role of hot and cold
• Be sensitive regarding interpreters and language barriers
• Ask about important dietary practice (especially during childbirth)
• Ask about group practices and beliefs
• Ask about women’s fears regarding unfamiliar care setting.

Question 11

Communication

Answer 11

• One of the most challenging barriers for nurses working with clients from different cultures
• Includes understanding the individual, appreciating differences in interpersonal style, interpreting volume of speech, meanings of touch and gestures.

Question 12

Most Important Questions to Ask Client about Expectations of Pregnancy

Answer 12

• What do you and your family think is most important to remain healthy during pregnancy
• What can you do to improve the health of you and your baby
• What foods make a healthy baby
• Who do you want with you during labor
• What can your labor support person do to help you be most comfortable
• What actions are important for you after birth
• What do you and your family expect from the nurses
• How will family members participate in pregnancy, childbirth and parenting

Question 13

Interpreters

Answer 13

• Inconsistencies between language of clients is a barrier to effective healthcare

Question 14

Interpreters

Answer 14

• Health related language skills and experience
• Should always be used in crisis or emergencies, or when family is extremely stressed and emotional
• Questions should be addressed to woman and not interpreter

Question 15

Before your Interview

Answer 15

• Outline statements and questions. List key information you need to know
• Learn something about the culture so you can converse informally with the interpreter

Question 16

Meet with interpreter

Answer 16

• Emphasize that you would like the client to ask questions regarding their care. (Some cultures consider this inappropriate)
• Make sure interpreter is comfortable with technical terms you need to use

Question 17

During Interview

Answer 17

• Make sure interpreter understands most important parts of the interview
• Stop every now and then to ask interpreter how everything is going
• Identify cultural issues that may conflict with your requests

Question 18

After Interview

Answer 18

• Speak with interpreter to see how it went and what can be improved

Question 19

Personal Space

Answer 19

• Different cultures have different appropriateness of personal space
• Respect for distance allows woman to maintain control over personal space. This supports autonomy and increases their sense of security

Question 20

Developing Cultural Competence

Answer 20

• Recognize disparities exist between own culture and one of client
• Educate and promote healthy behaviors that has meaning to the client culturally
• Communicate respect when client uses nontraditional healing practices and alternative therapies

Question 21

Promoting Family Health

Answer 21

• Health promotion is primarily based on prenatal care and prevention of complications during perinatal period.
• Nurses focus on collaborating with family, identifying risk factors, and providing health information to facilitate positive healthy behaviors.
• Identifying learning needs of mother and father is the essential first step.

Question 22

Vulnerable Populations

Answer 22

• Sociocultural, economic, and environmental risk factors contribute to disparities in health.
• They disproportionately affect certain racial, ethnic, or other groups.
• Differences in access to healthcare
• Social determinants
• Provider biases
• Poor provider-client communication
• Poor health literacy

Question 23

Women Disparities

Answer 23

• Gender, socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity
• Quality of care is different when compared to men
• Lack of access to healthcare, lack of health insurance, living in medically unserved area, inability to obtain needed services such as prenatal care.

Question 24

Racial/Ethnic Minorities

Answer 24

• Minority women have higher chance of chronic disease (heart disease, cancer, hepatitis, AIDS, mental issues)

Question 25

Adolescent Girls

Answer 25

• Considered healthy but participate in risky behaviors

Question 26

Older Women

Answer 26

• Higher life expectancy than men
• More likely to have chronic illness
• Less likely to use preventative services
• Spend more on healthcare

Question 27

Incarcerated Women

Answer 27

• Often have histories of IPV (intimate partner violence)

- HIV, substance abuse, and emotional damage due to absence of family.

Question 28

Immigrant, Refugee, Migrant Women

Answer 28

Immigrant - Move from one country to another to take up legal residency.
Refugee - Forced to leave home country in search for safer and more stable living condition
Access to healthcare is an issue due to not being US citizens
Migrant Workers - Work outside their home country
- Financial instability
- Child labor
- Poor Housing
- Lack of Education
- Language/cultural barriers
- Poor Dental
- Diabetes, hypertension, malnutrition, TB, skin disease

Question 29

Women rural vs urban communities

Answer 29

• Rural affected more by poverty and poor access to healthcare. Fewer physicians choose to practice in rural areas also lack of insurance
• Vulnerable to financial and transportation barriers to healthcare.

Question 30

Homeless Women

Answer 30

• Health issues due to lack of preventative care and resources
• Chronic illness, infectious disease, asthma, circulatory problems, diabetes, substance abuse, mental illness.
• Lifestyle factors contribute to health issues
• At risk for injury, illness, domestic abuse, assault, and rape.