Module 7 - Multiculturalism and Health

A Helping Hand [digital image]. (2015). Retrieved from: http://www.washingtontimes.com/multimedia/image/ap_10dbc1ab8b66602d840f6a7067005819jpg/

Overseas-born natives from different cultural backgrounds have vastly different cultural confrontations and obstructions when migrating from ethnic homelands to multicultural populations (Aslam, 2012). Voluntary migrants who desired a better quality of life have the complexity of assimilation and cultural stressors of sociocultural acceptance, language barriers, family separation and socio-economic disparities to influence cultural decision-making, impedes access to employment and social housing, and hinders navigation within the healthcare system (Tejero & Fowler, 2012). Asylum refugees held in congested immigration detention centres tend to have negative health outcomes relating to infectious disease presence and close-proximity transference (Khyatti, Trimbitas, Zouheir, Benani, El Messaoudi & Hemminki, 2014), cultural obscurity with subordinate socio-economic statuses, and emotional barriers of mental health dysfunction and self-harm ideations from the traumatic transportation and debilitating circumstances of natural disasters, cultural persecution or political war (Chantler, 2012).

Specific government health commitments (Department of Immigration and Citizenship, 2013; Department of Social Services, 2015), have been implemented in response to Australia's accountability and responsiveness to evolving patterns and cultural health needs of its ethnically diverse population. Relating to a personal interview with a South African female, Mercy Baafi, the main deliverance was to be empathically aware of cultural needs, and not to make assumptions with cultural diversity when interacting with cultural and linguistically diverse patients. The interview also acknowledged the importance of not labeling ethnic variations and to respect, without prejudice, the holistic requirements of cultural identities when delivering therapeutic healthcare.

Discounting one's ethnic traditions and beliefs will result in diminished help-seeking behaviour towards cultural healthcare needs (Dockery, Jeffery, Schauman, Williams, Farrelly, Bonnington & Clement, 2015). Meuter, Gallois, Segalowitz, Ryder & Hocking, (2015) explore language translation barricades and stipulates poor verbal communication contributes to negative health outcomes of multicultural people. Language interpretation services and cultural health literacy will avoid communication errors and reduce ethnic and racial disparities in transcultural healthcare (Wolz, 2015).

Self Reflection: 

In this module, I have learnt a deeper understanding of the cultural challenges and ethnical barriers of voluntary and forced migrants when relocating to a diversely different multicultural population. I have also discovered that there is much ethnic variation between cultures and sub-cultures, and the only way for me to be a culturally competent nurse, is to individually converse and assess them. Effective cultural awareness and good transcultural communication skills will be significant to my future clinical practice, and will assist me in providing better health outcomes for my multicultural clients.

References:

A Helping Hand [digital image]. (2015). Retrieved from: http://www.washingtontimes.com/multimedia/image/ap_10dbc1ab8b66602d840f6a7067005819jpg/

Aslam, M. (2012). The ethics of migration and healthcare. Archives Of Disease In Childhood, 97(5), 481-482. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2011-301681

Chantler, K. (2012). Gender, Asylum Seekers and Mental Distress: Challenges for Mental Health Social Work. British Journal Of Social Work, 42(2), 318-334.

Department of Immigration and Citizenship. (2013). Access and Equity Report 2010-2012. Australian Government. Retrieved from: https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/02_2014/access-equity-report-2010-12.pdf

Department of Social Services. (2015). The Multicultural Access and Equity Policy Guide. Australian Government. Retrieved from: https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/foi_disclosure_log/12-12-13/the_multicultural_access_and_equity_policy_guide.pdf

Dockery, L., Jeffery, D., Schauman, O., Williams, P., Farrelly, S., Bonnington, O., & Clement, S. (2015). Stigma- and non-stigma-related treatment barriers to mental healthcare reported by service users and caregivers. Psychiatry Research, 228(3), 612-619. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2015.05.044

Khyatti, M., Trimbitas, R., Zouheir, Y., Benani, A., El Messaoudi, M., & Hemminki, K. (2014). Infectious diseases in North Africa and North African immigrants to Europe. European Journal Of Public Health, 24(suppl_1), 47.

Meuter, R. I., Gallois, C., Segalowitz, N. S., Ryder, A. G., & Hocking, J. (2015). Overcoming language barriers in healthcare: A protocol for investigating safe and effective communication when patients or clinicians use a second language. BMC Health Services Research, 15(1), 1-5. doi:10.1186/s12913-015-1024-8

Tejero, L. S., & Fowler, C. (2012). Migration of women from the Philippines: implications for healthcare delivery. Collegian, 19(1), 59-63 5p. doi:10.1016/j.colegn.2011.12.003

Wolz, M. M. (2015). Language barriers: challenges to quality healthcare. International Journal Of Dermatology, 54(2), 248-250. doi:10.1111/ijd.12663