Introduction
The cultural interview was conducted with N.N., a 25-year-old male of African descent, born in South Africa. His family moved to the US when he was five years old, and he received an education, successfully developing in his career. He comes from a middle-class family and is also fluent in English.
The interview was conducted in 12 areas of cultural evaluation. Some categories examine the background, including heritage, communication features, and family organization (Purnell, 2012). Part of them concern the conditions of social life, including labor force issues, biocultural ecology, high-risk behavior, nutrition, healthcare, and medical practitioners (Purnell, 2012). Finally, the culturally determined attitudes toward various phenomena are assessed, including spirituality, pregnancy, and death rituals (Purnell, 2012). Cultural assessment helps identify the features that must be observed when working with a patient of a given cultural background.
Interview Summary
An interview with N.N. was conducted to identify features of the cultural background that healthcare practitioners may find helpful to consider. The first question was in the field of heritage, and it demonstrated that N.N. maintains a connection to their roots, integrating traditions into life in another country. From a communication perspective, his culture is open. N.N. easily builds communication in English and has no language barriers.
N.N. said that he has a large family, as is often the case in his homeland, with a traditional distribution of roles and high intergenerational communication. N.N. is not aware of the difficulties of finding a job in South Africa; he received a good education in the US and quickly found a suitable position. According to the biocultural approach, it became apparent that N.N. used to feel a close connection with the environment and does not always feel comfortable in a big city.
N.N. did not recognize himself as being subject to high-risk behavior, attributing this to the fact that he grew up in a prosperous area and received a proper upbringing. He and his family view motherhood and pregnancy as a blessing; he wants to start a large family, just like his parents. The interviewee recalls that he ate differently as a child than after the move, but states that there was always enough food, and he quickly adapted to American cuisine. N.N. thought for a few minutes while talking about death and admitted that his approach was different from that adopted in the West. He believes that death is a natural outcome of life, despite its tragic and complex nature.
From the perspective of spiritual practices, N.N. considers himself an atheist, but admits that his older family members still hold some traditional beliefs. N.N. reports that his family is not accustomed to spiritual practices and does not discuss religion. Regarding healthcare and healthcare service providers in South Africa, N.N. cannot recall ever visiting the hospital, as he has always been healthy. The interviewee believes that in the US, medical care is more accessible and of higher quality to a greater part of the population than in South Africa.
Implications for Health Practices
Despite South Africa having a diverse population, cultures, and traditions, several valuable insights can be gained from an interview with N.N. Firstly, it is essential to emphasize that the traditional family model in South Africa typically involves parents of different sexes and multiple children. A doctor conducting a pregnancy in a mother with several children should be constantly attentive to risk assessment and effectively convey them to the patient, especially with a slight age difference between children. Additionally, South African culture has strong family ties, which can be leveraged to involve relatives in the treatment process for emotional support.
The medical care provider must consider the fundamental differences in how food is typically consumed in the US and in South Africa. Problems with the gastrointestinal tract can be observed in patients who have abruptly switched from their usual, natural-based diet to fast food. It is also essential to be mindful of the environmental impact that can occur when moving from a natural environment to a polluted city.
The peculiarities of religious perception can primarily influence the provision of medical care. Patients of South African descent demand a more rigorous explanation for the need for manipulation to avoid confrontation with religious beliefs. The perception of death in this culture also deserves special attention. Accepting a lighter attitude towards such an event may interfere with mourning, and the physician should assist the family in coping with the passing of a loved one.
Conclusion
Cultural assessment can provide information that will be useful in the course of medical practice. Representatives of different cultures require an individual approach to encourage diversity and achieve the most successful health outcomes. Questioning the patient will provide insight into living conditions that are determinants of health, such as nutrition and socioeconomic status. Understanding cultural differences in background, religion, and attitudes towards life and death will enable a trusting approach to the patient, which will positively impact treatment results.
Reference
Purnell, L.D. (2012). Transcultural health care: A culturally competent approach. F.A. Davis.