Cultural Competence And Cultural Awareness

Every individual is different in his or her own way, whether it is ethnicity, cultural background, or religion. However, we are all human. We all deserve to be treated equally. Throughout the world, different cultures exist, and with the population increasing, so are many cultural groups. It is important to understand and be aware of the cultural differences and similarities that exist. There is not one single culture that is perhaps “better” than the other. In life, there are cultural situations and problems that exist. There are ways to develop cultural sensitivity and competence skills that perhaps will enhance programs that are developed for minority populations that are centered on prevention or intervention. Cultural sensitivity and competence is a process that all individuals must be aware of and recognize. Individuals can take action by learning about other cultural practices or behaviors, practicing different behaviors and values that promote proper and effective communication and become aware of their attitude towards others of different cultures (Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service, n.d.). When developing programs for those of minority, it should be focused on cultural sensitivity and competence. Cultural differences do exist. …show more content…
There are differences in race, ethnicity, religion, language, beliefs, etc. When developing prevention or intervention programs for minority populations, it is important to take into consideration the cultural backgrounds. Cultural ignorance is quite common in health care, today. In order to improve the competence of such programs, an understanding of cultures is key to advancing and seeing a positive outcome. Health care providers must be willing to increase their knowledge of cultural differences of their patient population. All patients deserve to be treated equally, and with cultural competence and sensitivity, it can be