Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation
Introduction
December twentieth, last year, I had an opportunity of enjoying my social holiday in Detroit, Michigan. I was visiting an African American friend, and it is the reason why I select African American culture for this paper. There are many lessons that I learned in my two weeks stay. Besides, the experience is crucial for my career because I picked important information on interacting with African American patients respectfully.
African American Culture
First of all, a majority of African/black Americans living in Detroit, Michigan, are either American by birth or immigrants from Africa. Their African ancestry has a significant impact on their beliefs even though they interact with other cultures together, forming the Culture of the United States. For instance, the typical African culture has a strong belief in spiritual beings. They believe that there are Supreme Beings and other intermediate supernatural spirits that connect the living to the Supreme Being.
Furthermore, Africans believe that there is life after death, and ancestors form part of ‘the living dead.’ Also, according to African traditions, God is the sole controller and is responsible for giving life as well as having the authority of taking away life. Certain ceremonies are performed to appease the ancestors, such as the pouring of libations. Moreover, it is believed that the naming of children after ancestors pleases the dead. An aspect of African culture influences the belief for the causality of illnesses. For example, they believe that sickness can occur naturally, such as when a member of society succumbs to a snake bite. Alternatively, there are also supernatural causes of illnesses split into two subcategories. The first one is that a disease can result from a curse connected with the supernatural realm. Secondly, it can arise due to the manipulation of a living person who knows to utilize supernatural, magical powers through witchcraft. Consequentially, these beliefs influence the choice of treatment for many Africans. Often, sicknesses arising from natural causes necessitate the need to contact medical facilities or natural remedies in the form of herbs and traditional medicine. However, for witchcraft-related illnesses, Africans traditionally prefer divine interventions.
Benefits in providing culturally sensitive care
There are two significant benefits that I will apply in providing culturally sensitive care from the experience I had in Michigan. First, I have a deep understanding of the belief and significance that African Americans attach to life and it will facilitate my provision of end of life care for terminally ill patients. A study that was conducted by Ramona et al. revealed that cultural beliefs of African American individuals, to some extent, influenced their perceptions of advanced palliative care. Specifically, many of them have a challenge with ascribing to the acceptance of advanced directives because they feel that it contradicts their faith. Some of the participants in the study thought that the completion of advanced care directive documents would fasten their deaths, and it takes away the role God has in determining the fate of lives.
Secondly, the knowledge I gained on the preference for natural remedies among African American patients is of benefit because I will provide evidence-based natural alternatives for the medical cases that may fail to respond to medication. It will wisely satisfy the patients’ beliefs of utilizing such natural remedies, thus enhancing adherence to therapy.
Conclusion
Health is holistic according to the WHO’s definition and is not only founded on physical and mental well-being but must also satisfy patients’ social factors. As healthcare professionals deal with eliminating disease, it is best if the service is delivered in a way that respects the patient’s culture.
References
Rhodes, R. L., Elwood, B., Lee, S. C., Tiro, J. A., Halm, E. A., & Skinner, C. S. (2016). The desires of their hearts: The multidisciplinary perspectives of African Americans on end-of-life care in the African American community. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, 34(6), 510-517. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909116631776
Townsend Stevens, A. (2016). Fighting to the end: African Americans and end of life care decisions. Nursing and Palliative Care, 1(3), 59-61. https://doi.org/10.15761/npc.1000116