Cultural Aspects of Women’s Health: Hearing Their Voice By Calvin Roberson, MHA, MPH Vice President of Planning & Program Development

Ethnic Voice Shared values, traditions, norms, customs, arts, history, folklore, and institutions of their identified people group. ◦Gender roles ◦Definitions of health ◦Behaviors related to health (food identification, preparation and service)

Capable Voice Physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and economic abilities that are expressed to: ◦Restore health ◦Preserve and maintain health ◦Advance health to their care community

Racial Voice Social identification with a group of people due to a historic or perceived connection to the group sharing similar physical attributes ◦Pre-conception of trustworthiness of healthcare provider/system

Positional Voice Role within a context of relationship and caretaking that influences others to engage in her health or their own health ◦Parent ◦Sibling ◦Child ◦Spouse/Friend ◦Colleague ◦Leader

Generational Voice Perspectives, values, beliefs, and expectations held that are attributed to the time of birth and the period of time in which she has been reared ◦Engagement of health providers and other professionals ◦Use of technology to support health

Cultural Humility Cultural competency requires that a health provider engage their patients: To explore the multidimensional facet of a woman creating a mechanism for the collective voice to be heard and singular voices to be discerned. To distinguish areas of concern with the singular voice and empower them to take action based upon their cultural context and professional standards