Reducing Health Disparities through Cultural Competence

Abstract Activities relating to “cultural diversity” and “cultural competence” have gained a greater audience with the increase in culturally diverse populations in the United States. In the area of health care, issues range from managing and preparing a more diverse workforce to eliminate disparities in health outcomes to ensuring access and utilization of services by culturally diverse communities. Cultural competence is inextricably tied to quality of care and is a cross-cutting issue affecting all service delivery systems and providers, including health educators. Health educators need to have an awareness of their own cultural values and beliefs with recognition for how they influence attitudes and behaviors (Randall-David, 1989). In addition, agencies and organizations should assess their cross-cultural strengths and weakness in terms of policies, procedures, practice, and structure. Respect for cultural values, traditions, and customs affects the willingness and ability of both individuals and organizations to develop interventions and services that affirm and reflect the value of different cultures. The extent to which interventions and services successfully affirm and reflect these values determines the appropriateness, acceptability, accessibility, and utilization of services (Epstein, 1998).