Global Applications of Culturally Competent Health Care

1.1Introduction1.2 Social Determinants of HealthSocial determinants have been shown to havea greater negative impact on populations whoSocial determinants of health are the conditionsexperience cumulative disadvantages in societyin which people are born, grow, live, work, andand manifested in poorer health status. Healthage (WHO2015a) as well as the systems put inpromotion requires a broad understanding of theplace to deal with illness (CDC2015). Thesemechanisms by which social disadvantages cre-social circumstances are shaped by a wider setate health inequities in vulnerable economic, social, and political forces influ-Vulnerable groups are more likely to experienceencing the distribution of money, power, andpoverty, social exclusion, and limited access toresources. Social determinants of health aresocial resources and privileges. Key to improvingmostly responsible for health inequities amongpopulation health is through culturally compe-populations within a society and across the practice to achieve health equity by promot-They determine the extent to which a person oring a culture of health and healthy communitiesgroup possesses the physical, social, and per-(Lavizzo-Mourey2015), grounded in the prin-sonal resources to identify and achieve personalciples of social justice, human rights, and benefi-aspirations, satisfy needs, and cope with the envi-cence. Table1.1presents the Global Guidelinesronment (Raphael2004). Social determinantsfor Culturally Competent Health Care and sam-of health pertain to the quantity and quality ofple applications of each. These guidelines articu-a variety of resources that a society makes avail-late the ethical and moral principles of culturallyable to its members, such as, income, food, hous-competent care to achieve health equity for indi-ing, employment, and health and social ls, families, and populations