Week 5

Question 1

What is Culture?

Answer 1

19th C Anthropologists
A set of rules/standards shared by members

Behaviours that falls within a range of variation the members consider proper and acceptable

Simple definition: Behaviour and beliefs that are learned and shared

Question 2

what is society

Answer 2

Society: A group of people who occupy a specific locality and share the same cultural traditions

Question 3

Cultures operate among many areas:

Answer 3

Family
Social groups
Individual growth and development
Communication
Religion
Art
Music
Politics and law
Economy

Question 4

Why is culture important to COVID-19 deaths in different countries?

Answer 4

Japan 66,000 deaths/125 million citizens.
Mexico 330,000 deaths/132 million citizens.
Canada > 50,000 deaths/38 million citizens
US > 1million deaths/330 million citizens

due to willingness to follow the rules

Question 5

tight culture countries

Answer 5

Japan, Singapore, China, Austria

History of chronic threat (natural disasters, invasions, etc.)

“Following the rules helps us survive chaos and crisis”
70% were afraid to catch Covid

Question 6

loose culture countries

Answer 6

US, UK, Spain, Italy

Fewer past threats
“Can afford to be more permissive”
5 x more Covid cases
8 x more Covid deaths
49% were afraid to catch Covid

Question 7

how cultures are viewed?
ethnocentrism

Answer 7

Ethnocentrism - when one views another culture through the prism of their own society

Question 8

cultural relativism

Answer 8

because cultures are unique, they can be evaluated only according to their own standards and values

Question 9

ethnocentrism vs cultural relativism

Answer 9

ethnocentrism
- ethnocentrism is judging other cultures based on the preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one’s own culture
- involves looking at another culture from the perspective of one’s own culture
- an ethnocentric individual will believe that his culture is better, ‘correct’ and ‘normal’

cultural relativism
- cultural relativism is the notion that a culture should be understood on its own terms, not using standards of another culture
- involves looking at another culture by its own perspective instead of one’s own culture
- a person who believes in cultural relativism understands that one culture is not better than another

Question 10

ethnocentrism

Answer 10

is the view that one particular ethnic group is somehow superior to all others

• a common idiom is “tunnel vision”. in this context, ethnocentrism is the view that a particular ethnic group’s system of beliefs and values is morally superior to all others

Question 11

cultural relativism

Answer 11

Cultures are unique and can only be evaluatedonly according to their own standards andvalues​
“I will try not to judge you for that”​

Cultural Relativism examines culture from a non-judgmental approach – assessing a culture through its own belief system.

Where do we see the greatest differences? What aspects of our lives?

Question 12

Cultural Humility

Answer 12

Awareness of inability to know everything about a particular culture, but remain open and accepting to learn from each patient’s cultural perspective

humility does not mean you think less of yourself.
it means you think of yourself less

Question 13

Cultural Appropriation:

Answer 13

The adoption or use of elements of onecultureby members of a different cultureas a largely negative phenomenon.

Question 14

People’s Health Behaviours

Answer 14

Some global cultural practices have benefits but some may be harmful

Eating habits
Birthing practices
Length of breastfeeding
Hygiene practices
Experience of pain

Question 15

Perceptions of Disease

Answer 15

In HICs follow a ‘Western Medical Paradigm’
Disease is a biological, psychological and/or physiological condition

The malfunctioning or maladaptation of biologic and psychophysiological processes in the individual

Different cultures may have different perceptions of disease and illness

Caused by other factors - supernatural, offending the

Gods/Ancestors

What is seen as normal in some societies may be seen as illness in others

What are some examples of this?

Question 16

Illness represents personal, interpersonal, and cultural reactions to disease or discomfort

Answer 16

Can include feelings that come with having a disease (fatigue, weakness, discomfort, etc.)
Feelings of illness can be affected by many non-diseasefactors (such as expectations, beliefs, fears, feelings/moods, and culture).

Question 17

Prevention of Disease/Illness

Answer 17

There are many different cultural practices that focus on avoiding illness
What are some examples?

Question 18

Harmful Cultural Practices

Answer 18

Female Genital Mutilation
Male Circumcision
Sex-Selective Abortion
Faith-based abuse
Honour killing
Bride price
Dowry

Question 19

Diagnosis and Treatment

Answer 19

Patterns of resort – manner which people/families care for illness

Many people in traditional societies often care for the illness themselves with home remedies (different from HIC)

Often followed by visit to local healer and use of indigenous medicines

Only then if illness does not resolve, will they seek out help of a ‘Western Doctor’

Question 20

Traditional MedicineParallel Health Systems

Answer 20

“Traditional medicine refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being.” (2002, p.7)

Question 21

Traditional Southern African Medicine

Answer 21

About 200 000 traditional healers practice in Southern Africa, compared with 25 000 doctors of modern medicine
80% of the black population use the services of traditional healers….why??
Traditional healers are enshrined in the minds of the people and respected in their community, and they are often its opinion leaders.

Inyangas:
Herbalists and possess extensive knowledge about curative herbs and medicines of animal origin
90% are male.

Sangomas:
‘Diviners’-determine the cause of illness by using ancestral spirits
A person cannot choose to become a diviner. Only a person “called” by the ancestors can become one
90% are female

Question 22

Integrative Healthcare

Answer 22

Integrated Medicine = evidence based management which uses the best of both conventional medicine and alternative medicine
Requires openness to understanding the benefits and limitations of allopathic medicine and realization that science alone may not deal with all the complex needs of patients (Snyderman and Weil, 2002).
Ex) The government in India recognized 8 systems of healthcare: Allopathy, Ayurveda, Siddha, Swa-rigpa, Unani, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, and Yoga

Question 23

Culture and Health Policy

Answer 23

Policy makers need understanding of cultures if they are to be helpful in enhancing health for the members of those societies
Sensitivity to local cultures with government partners and in conjunction with insiders to the culture

Need to ask: What behaviour changes may be needed to enhance individual and population health in a particular setting?

Need to ask: Who can help us with this?

Question 24

What is ours to do?

Answer 24

Learn from people
Respectfully ask questions
Avoid stereotyping based on religious or cultural background

Learn from other sources
Quality online resources, websites, community organization, trainings

Question 25

Health and Education

Answer 25

Education is a powerful determinant of health strong correlation between the level of education and all key health indicators Opportunities for gaining skills, raising one’s income, enhancing one’s social status

Question 26

Productivity is tied to EducationWhy?

Question 27

Health Productivity and Earnings

Answer 27

Good health increases longevity and lifetime earnings Healthy workers are more productive than unhealthy workers When ill, many people cannot work and therefore cannot earn money

Question 28

Health, the costs of illness, and poverty

Answer 28

Illness often leads to a decrease in earnings Indirect costs to illness, such as transportation Costs of illness can cause individuals and families to dispose of assets, and fall into poverty Long-lasting disabilities generally require considerable expenditure on health services

Question 29

Employment

Answer 29

Employment provides income, a sense of identity and helps to structure day-to-day life. Unemployment frequently leads to material and social deprivation, psychological stress, and the adoption of health-threatening coping behaviours. Lack of employment is associated with physical and mental health problems that include depression, anxiety and increased suicide rates.

Question 30

Social Exclusion

Answer 30

Many aspects of Canadian society marginalize people and limit their access to social, cultural and economic resources. Socially excluded Canadians are more likely to be unemployed and earn lower wages. They have less access to health and social services, and means of furthering their education. These groups are increasingly being segregated into specific neighborhoods.

Question 31

Social Exclusion new Canadians

Answer 31

New Canadians are frequently unable to practice their professions due to regulations and procedures that bar their participation. Governments must enforce laws that protect the rights of minority groups, particularly concerning employment rights and anti-discrimination. Attention must be directed to the health needs of immigrants and to the unfavourable socio-economic position of many groups, including the particular difficulties many new Canadians face in accessing health and other care services.