Ethnicity & Illness W9&10

Question 1

Race -

Answer 1

used to differentiate groups of people biologically, i.e. superficial characteristics (skin color and facial features)

Question 2

Culture -

Answer 2

• anything that is made by human beings and does not derive from nature
• people’s constructions, experiences, beliefs and values

ex: * way of life, fashion, beliefs, customs, food etc*

Question 3

Ethnicity -

Answer 3

• social division of people into groups based on their identification with shared cultural characteristics and other people
• ethnic boundaries are usually constructed & maintained by social groups themselves
• insiders vs outsiders => ethnic groups enemies

Question 4

Shared cultural characteristics (3):

Answer 4

– Shared culture: language, food, religion, clothing,
origins, myths and traditions, music and art
– Ethnic group: social membership and identity
– Ethnic origin: common ancestry and place of origin

Question 5

EMG -

Answer 5

Ethnic Minority Groups

Question 6

Ethnicity is fluid, because of (3):

Answer 6

➢ Migration and globalisation
➢ Many people change their identification with an ethnic group
➢ Many people have multiple ethnic identities or they may not strongly identify themselves with an ethnic group

Question 7

Ethnoization -

Answer 7

process whereby a condition is attributed to a specific ethnic group. This can lead to stereotypes and incorrect information.

Examples:
Sickle Cell Disease and African or African Caribbean groups
Schizophrenia and African Caribbeans
CHD and South Asians

Question 8

Ethnicity does not define Ill health, instead the scheme is:

Answer 8

Ethnicity —> Social factors —> Ill health

Question 9

The Health Profile of EMG: Difference in culture and health behaviours

Answer 9

• EMG people’s or migrants bring with them their own understanding of health and illness which is culturally induced —> may not be willing to make changes (e.g. vaccines etc)
• Sometimes EMG people’s health literacy may be poor: may not be aware of possible causes of conditions and may not know where they should go for help or their rights in the host country

Question 10

The Health Profile of EMG: Socioeconomic disadvantage

Answer 10

Migrants are coming as low-income workers to do the jobs that local people are not willing to do => they are likely to live in poverty or even be unemployed

Question 11

The Health Profile of EMG: Adopting the western lifestyle

Answer 11

Second and third generation migrants tend to adopt
the western unhealthy lifestyle

Question 12

The Health Profile of EMG: Low population density

Answer 12

➢ in the event EMG people’s live in areas where they cannot find many people from their home country
➢ This may lead to feel less integrated into the host
society and socially isolated
➢ Also, in low population density areas migrants do not have many opportunities for social support and triggers

Question 13

Health Profile of EMG: Racism

Answer 13

Problematic experience for migrants => associated with ill health => can lead to social isolation and feelings of injustice => associated with depression and general social disadvantage

Question 14

Racism consists of two dimensions:

Answer 14

1) Prejudice: negative attitudes
2) Discrimination: actions based on prejudice (e.g. prevent someone from an ethnic minority group to get a job)

Question 15

Racism is associated with what (3)?

Answer 15

• social isolation, inactivity, unemployment
• low salaries
• chronic stress and alters social relations (ex: avoid allowing children to play outside, or putting the washing out during the day) => People are likely to feel tired, depressed and vulnerable

Question 16

Cultural Competence -

Answer 16

understanding the importance of social and cultural influences on patients’ health beliefs and behaviors; considering how these factors interact at multiple levels of the health care delivery system and, finally, devising interventions that take these issues into account to assure quality health care delivery to diverse patient populations

Question 17

cultural competence is associated with (4):

Answer 17

➢ Patient satisfaction
➢ Improved doctor-patient relationship
➢ Improved adherence
➢ Improved health outcomes

Question 18

Skills for Cultural Competence (Hordjk et, 2018)

Answer 18

• Knowledge of social determinants of health
• Awareness of intersectionality (culture, social class,
  gender, disability etc)
• Awareness of cultural values which can have an impact on understanding diagnosis and management
• Critically reflect on own values and beliefs
• Communicate in a nondiscriminatory, nonstereotypical way regardless of cultural and ethnic background
• Empathy regardless of ethnic background