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The development of multicultural societies in the modern era has raised awareness about the differences in ethnic group’s relation to health experience. What was once considered plain racial attributes is now a key element in understanding the relationship between an individual and their health. An individual’s Ethnicity is defined as the’ social group a person belongs to because of a shared culture, which means history, geographical origins, language, diet and other such features”1. ... This essay will explain the influence of ethnicity on a person’s health in relation to other structural socio-economic factors such as culture , community and the health sector.
Different ethnic groups have different health needs. Afro-Caribbean’s have higher rates of sickle cell anemia, Asians suffer a higher risk of coronary heart diseases than those from the African Commonwealth, Europeans have higher rates of hemophilia: such labels do not specifically shed light into why there is predisposition to disease risk by certain ethnicity. At the biological level, the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic is necessarily blurred by the complexities of pathophysiology. ... Genetic heritage plays a role in ethnicity, but its important to recognize that there is complex interaction between genetic and environmental variables that leads to ethnic-specific diseases. No single variable can provide an adequate causal explanation for the difference disease among ethnic groups-to attribute it to such would be like relating skin color to IQ- 1
Culture is a significant factor in the way an individual behavior affects their health choice. Certain conventions and practices may protect health, while others can be harmful. ... For Maori, on the other hand, a strong tie with their cultural identity: te reo(language) and te whenua (land) may increase their well being and good health (Durie 1994). Their beliefs and customs can sometime target the health of certain members of the community. For example, kaumatua and kuia have a high status in the Maori community and this is instrumental in the good health of these individuals specifically and their whanau, hapu and iwi in general. Asians have lower prevalence of AIDS and STD’s because culture affects their sexual behaviour
Cultural taboos and a strong sense of pride can create barriers to accessing health services.
Approximate Word count = 1728
Approximate Pages = 6.9
(250 words per page double spaced)
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