It is important to diversify the healthcare providers and related agencies to meet the requirements of the 21st century. The existence of distinct cultural diversity within the health care system is essential to delivering satisfactory service to all. Moreover, it will alleviate access to health care providers for all minorities. The US health care has continued to be diverse compared to other countries to accommodate all. The healthcare system in the United States is unique as a result. Regardless of its surroundings, the white population grows steadily, but the Native American population grows substantially quicker than other groups. Nurses must have the training and experience required to deal with patients in a way that recognizes and respects their diversity because of the expanding number of individuals from various ethnic origins. This study examines the cultural diversity within the Native American healthcare system.
Native Americans Transcultural Beliefs
Language
The English language is predominantly spoken by the Native Americans, although they normally use various native languages. However, they are associated with Black American English, which they developed. Communication is accompanied by some body movements and facial expressions that are highly demonstrative (Purnell&Frenkl, 2019).
Religious and End-life Practices.
Many black Americans are Christians mainly associated with Baptist and Methodist churches (Purnell&Frenkl, 2019), although many other religious denominations exist. Religion is viewed as critical in the survival of African Americans. Religion is integral to every American life and is highly associated with good moral standings. Prayer groupings and evangelistically related formations form a cementing bond between various families as they take part in those platforms. However, there are also Native Americans proscribing to Islam, although there are not many compared to Christians. African Americans believe in the continuance of connection between the living and the dead, especially close family members. They also believe death or disease befalls someone if they have violated some set norms or as a result of evil beings “voodoo” (Purnell&Frenkl, 2019). The deceased are not immediately buried but kept intact to allow the family and close friends to mourn the departed. Funerals are common among African Americans; they signify the last stage of mourning and are often a platform where emotions are allowed. It is considered a sign of respect to the departed as they are sent off amid friends, relatives, and the clergy.
Socio Economic Status
Most African Americans live in abject poverty compared to their counterparts. They live in poor households and reserved areas. Due to these poor conditions, many opt to work as manual laborers or in areas that do not require complex technicalities. They normally work under stringent conditions due to racial-related issues.
Risky Behaviors
Since many African Americans live in poor households, they mainly have to devise ways to survive through the thick and thin means, leaving health concerns not a priority to them. They also believe in elderly homage consultation whenever they get sick, which explains why most do not seek medical services. There is a high prevalence of smoking, illegal gang activities, and HIV among African Americans compared to their European American counterparts (Purnell&Frenkl, 2019).
Dietary Preferences
Food is viewed as a sign of wealth and good health and is mainly offered to guests during important occasions. However, food of black American descent is offered to the guest as a sign of generosity and appreciation for visiting and hence should not be rejected (Purnell&Frenkl, 2019). Rejecting food might signify that one has rejected the person offering the food. The common food has high fat, sodium, and cholesterol content and is devoid of fruits and fibers. The commonly served diet is salt pork due to its affordability .consequently, due to the dietary habits, most people in African American areas are obsessed and overweight(Purnell&Frenkl, 2019). Also, high blood pressure and hypertension diseases are common.
African Americans Healthcare Behaviors
Most do not believe in healthcare service providers and are suspicious of them. Hence, most consider home-based root doctors or the elderly to cure their illnesses (Purnell&Frenkl, 2019). Healthcare providers are normally the last option when home remedies cannot cure the disease. There exists a distrust of healthcare providers of African American descent. The people do not believe in medical personnel, which explains why many prefer home-based care or faith-related healing. This explains why even after prescription, some people take the prescribed medication wrongly, especially the antihypertensive prescription for hypertension; some take it when it is convenient instead of following up the dosage (Purnell&Frenkl, 2019). Underrepresentation of the minority, such as Africa Americans, causes ill feelings making them believe they are the cause of unaffordable healthcare services.
Challenges Related to Healthcare and Outcomes.
Among many African Americans, physicians are not popular because of healthcare practices, leaving folk practitioners to take their place in society. The underrepresentation of African Americas causes a lot of distrust and suspicion against healthcare providers (Purnell&Frenkl, 2019). Consequently, healthcare services access is minimal among them. The continued rise of African American population has overstretched the available number of medical officers in the native areas (Butkus et al., 2020). Some medical services, however, are close to the fact that some African Americans cannot afford them due to financial problems, especially in the hinterland.
Steps to Broaden access to Healthcare among African Americans.
Access to health care is vital to preserve quality health and prevent disease and fatalities. The outcome results in health equity amongst all people living in America, including African Americans. There have to be deliberate efforts involving the government, health care providers, and the community, which has been done, although improvements are required. The use of technology can help bridge the gap between patients and healthcare providers, allowing a seamless flow of inquiries without necessarily making physical follow-ups (Tom Peterson, 2020). Using mobile clinics to reach patients can also bridge the gap, effectively minimizing costs and time (Tom Peterson, 2020). These would involve the use of vans equipped to provide therapeutic services on-site. They provide primary, preventive, and other lighter medical services.
In addition, the collaboration of medical service providers with the stakeholders in the community, such as the clergy, root doctors, and family heads, would help to instill confidence in the community (Purnell&Frenkl, 2019). This would ease the row and suspicions leveled against healthcare providers and ensure broader access to healthcare services.
In conclusion, the American health care system has faced different cultural diversities, which will not change soon. Hence, there is a need for all stakeholders involved to devise a plan for healing the existing prejudice of some communities due to race to incorporate everyone. There is also a call for the inclusion of all while educating them on various contemporary issues about diversity, as this would help accommodate all people from their walks of life to the service. Nevertheless, diversity will continue, but the dynamics can change from one race to another, hence the need for progressive outcomes.
References
Butkus, R., Rapp, K., Cooney, T. G., Engel, L. S., & Health and Public Policy Committee of the American College of Physicians*. (2020). Envisioning a better US health care system for all: reducing barriers to care and addressing social determinants
Purnell, L. D., & Fenkl, E. A. (2019). Transcultural diversity and health care. In Handbook for culturally competent care (pp. 1-6). Springer, Cham.
Tom Peterson, M. 10 Ways Hospitals Can Improve Healthcare Access. Retrieved 22 March 2020, from https://stakeholderhealth.org/healthcare-access/.
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