**7.4. Clinical level**

It is important to note that no two patients will interpret what good health care is in exactly the same way. This interpretation will be based on personal backgrounds and experiences which have been found to be influenced to a large extent by factors like age, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, and economic status. These factors influence the perception of the individual who receives a health service or product [30]. Therefore, it is important to note that a culturally sensitive healthcare delivery system limits barriers as regards culture and language thus

Cultural competency is one of the main ingredients in closing existing disparities in access to health care. It is one-way healthcare providers, and their target audiences can always find a common ground as they address health issues. Patients and doctors, population groups, and healthcare organizations can work together to achieve positive health outcomes in such a way that cultural differences become an advantage instead of a weakness. This is possible when

Agreement on what terms to use is not universal as words like "cultural responsiveness," "cultural humility," and cultural effectiveness" have been used, each of which has a unique definition. However, a sense of agreement exists based on the fact that each proponent of the above terms has recognized certain aspects of health delivery, especially the patient-provider relationship, as critical part of the concept. What seems to be lacking, however, is the development of a more comprehensive approach to thinking about and implementing cultural competence in health care at multiple levels and from multiple perspectives in order to overcome

Cultural competence of health interventions is largely determined by leadership within organizations as well as discharge of a myriad of functions carried out by individual members of the healthcare team. The degree to which the makeup of major establishments reflect the different groups that make up the target population will influence how culturally adequate the policies, procedures, and decisions made will be. Available evidence suggests that inequalities of representation at strategic, management, and operational levels within the health organiza-

Inadequate minority representation in governance, administrative, and clinical leadership roles causes healthcare systems to be disconnected from the minority communities they serve.

Mr. Audu Bako had just discovered he was HIV positive. It came to him as a shock; despite the fact that he had four wives and several other "mistresses" and never practiced safe sex, he had never thought that this dreaded disease would catch up with him. After all, none of his friends had it. He would never divulge his condition to anyone, not even his wives. If his

bringing about desirable health outcomes and positive behavioral adjustments.

the beliefs, practices, and cultural needs of communities are given high priority [31].

barriers which exist at organizational and individual levels.

tion result in poor acceptability and access to health services.

**7.2. Case study 1 (a transgression of the principle)**

**7. Barriers to cultural competence**

**7.1. Organizational level**

36 Current Issues in Global Health

When there is a failure to properly appreciate, understand, and even explore cultural differences during the patient-provider interaction, clinical barriers to healthcare delivery arise. These differences manifest during interactions with different patients and within diverse settings and situations. A reasonable level of flexibility, perception, and judgment is therefore required.

planning clinics across the country and positive changes in fertility indices [32]. What brought about this change? In many countries, especially in Africa and the Middle East, the most influential voices are those of religious leaders. Where a health service goes against religious beliefs, wide acceptance is almost impossible even when other cultural factors are taken into consideration. Ensuring that the health "product" is supported by religious institutions is

Cultural Sensitivities and Health

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http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.79455

Based on the illustrations above, it needs to be clearly stated that cultural competence is required at several critical points within the healthcare delivery process. For ease of understanding, these have been divided into three; organizational, structural, and clinical

**Cultural competence at organizational levels:** interventions deployed at this point must ensure a reasonable level of diversity in the composition of leadership and personnel of a

**Cultural competence at structural levels:** this requires efforts to ensure that healthcare delivery processes and activities are designed in such a way that they guarantee reasonable levels of access to quality care for all subgroups within the population that system serves [26].

**Cultural competence at clinical levels:** interventions required here are steps taken to improve the capacity of a healthcare practitioner to recognize, understand, and harness cultural pecu-

In conclusion, the face of health care is changing. The concepts of cultural awareness, cultural competence, and cultural sensitivity are gradually becoming standard terminologies in quality healthcare delivery. It has therefore become more imperative that they are understood and

With constant changes in the composition of global populations, it becomes more likely that disconnections may exist at points where services are rendered, including healthcare services. It also becomes more important that these differences are managed in such a way that the management of each patient is devoid of bias. Regardless of whether the healthcare provider is a nurse, physician, therapist, admissions clerk, or other professional, there are opportunities each and every day to interact with patients and their families and to succeed or fail in the

There is compelling evidence that proves the connection between patients' satisfaction with their healthcare providers and various healthcare provider behaviors. This implies that ability to deliver quality health care in its true sense will depend more and more on how much the

Finally, there is a growing need for healthcare workers to be aware of the predominant cultural factors that influence how their clients think and behave. These individuals must be

information and skill the health worker has is "colored" by cultural sensitivity.

liarities of individual patients in the provision of health-related information and care.

healthcare organization to ensure that it is representative of its target population.

fundamentally strategic in these societies.

application of the concepts of cultural sensitivity.

interventions:

**8. Conclusion**

practiced.

When cultural and linguistic barriers in the clinical encounter negatively affect communication and trust, it leads to patient dissatisfaction, poor adherence (to both medications and health promotion/disease prevention interventions), and poorer health outcomes.

According to Kreuter et al. [4], "Cultural competence" in healthcare delivery demands three basic skills when quality healthcare delivery to varied patient populations is the focus:

