Cultural Diversity and Health

Latin America and the Caribbean are of the most diverse regions in the world.  It is also where one of the largest disparities in terms of socio-economic classes exist.  PAHO recognizes the need to address the ethnic, social and cultural diversities that exist within Member States and technical units in order to create health policies and services that are accesible to entire populations.

There is ample evidence attesting to the disadvantage and discrimination that many of the men and especially women of these populations experience regarding their socio economic welfare, exclusion, and their health, and access and contribution to care. Health information systems also often fail to recognize the differences and needs of these groups, which hinders defining better interventions and indicators for monitoring acceptance and effectiveness in improving the health of all populations.

An Intercultural approach promotes the equitable interaction between groups with different cultural identities; perceives health as a right, and implies the capacity of health workers to integrate different knowledge, beliefs, and cultural practices in addressing health and disease, to life and death. Health policies, programs and plans are transformative when they address ethnic inequity gaps and actively involve affected populations in addressing these gaps.  When these recognize and include traditional practices – such as traditional medicine – they are ethnic specific.  When cultural differences and the participation are not taken into account, they are culturally insensitive.

Relevant links

• Resolutions on the Health of Indigenous Peoples
• Social Determinants of Health of Indigenous Peoples
• Mainstreaming Ethnic Equity in Health Policies
• Human Rights and Health of Indigenous Peoples
• International Declarations and Resolutions on the Health of Indigenous Peoples
• Cultural Diversity Events and Meetings
• Other links related to Health of Indigenous Peoples

Publications

• An Integrated Approach to Controlling Tuberculosis in Indigenous Populations
• An Overview of Current Knowledge of the Social Determinants of Indigenous Health
• Cultural Diversity and Disaggregation of Statistical Health Information
• Gender, Equity, and Indigenous Women’s Health in the Americas
• Harmonization of Indigenous and Conventional Health Systems in the Americas
• Health Conditions of Aboriginal People in Belize, Guyana and Suriname
• Health of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas
• Health Program of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas (Action Plan 2005-2007)
• Health Services Delivery in Areas Inhabited by Indigenous People
• Incorporating Gender Perspective in Work with Indigenous Peoples
• Indigenous Peoples - Strategic Directions and Plan of Action 2003–2007
• Mainstreaming Ethnic Equity in Health Policies
• Millenium Development Goals conceptual framework: an indigenous peoples perspective
• Social Determinants of Health of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas
• Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines and Therapies
• Working to Achieve Health Equity with an Ethnic Perspective: What has been Done and Best Practices