Transcultural Diversity and Health Care

Abstract

The need for cultural competence is increasingly recognized by health-care providers and health-related organizations in the United States and globally. The social ideology of a melting pot has been replaced by recognizing that people deserve respect within their cultural framework and as individuals. The literature on health and health-care disparities across ethnic, social, and economic groups continues to demonstrate compelling evidence for health-care providers and health-care organizations to be attentive to cultural diversity and inclusion as well as cultural competency. Major goals of Healthy People 2020 that impact on health disparities, with culture being one force to help eliminate them, are to (a) attain high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death; (b) achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the health of all groups; (c) create social and physical environments that promote good health for all; and (d) promote quality of life, healthy development, and healthy behaviors across all life stages.