Treaded discussion Homework Help

To what extent do you think cultural beliefs, values, and traditions may impact health education efforts? To what extent do you think cultural beliefs, values, and traditions may enhance health education efforts?

People would be surprised to realize that I grew up in a traditional society where traditional herbalists were the only known medical practitioners.

These cultural beliefs impacted negatively on health education. For instance, most traditional beliefs do not recommend modern treatment and most children from those communities are discouraged from pursuing medical related courses. Accordingly, most cultures have their own explanation of diseases, including the cause and treatment of different types of diseases which may not be true, leading to loss of life. An example is African and Asian explanations on the causes of HIV/AIDS which they used to associate with curses. This aided its rampant spread, hence putting more pressure on health practitioners and facilities in later stages.

In response to Gloria’s comments, I strongly agree with her comments. This is because cultural and religious believes have created a misunderstanding between medical practitioners and patients; with some patients refusing take up medical treatment citing their cultural beliefs, for instance, in the video worlds apart, patient’s grandmother  adheres to her Buddhists’ beliefs and the mother is worried of family repercussions incase of surgery failures, (Commonwealth Fund, 2004).

Cultural beliefs have also impacted negatively on the health status of black African in the US and other white dominated nations. An example is refusal by health practitioner to transplant Kidney on a black patient in the video clearly illustrates how cultural beliefs results negatively on health services, (Commonwealth Fund, 2004).

Finally, I concur with Gloria that increased cultural cases gives health practitioners and managers an opportunity to put in place relevant policies necessary to aver such cases and enhance delivery of health care services.

References

Airhienbuwa, C. & Webster, J.D. (2004) Culture and African Contexts of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Support. Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance

Commonwealth Fund (2004). Worlds Apart: A Film Series on Cross-Cultural Health Care. Retrieved November 1, 2011 from http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Resources/2004/Feb/Worlds-Apart—A-Film-Series-on-Cross-Cultural-Health-Care.aspx

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