Graduation Year
2005
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.A.
Degree Granting Department
Anthropology
Major Professor
Roberta Baer, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Jeanine Coreil, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Nancy Romero-Daza, Ph.D.
Keywords
cultural competence, culturally appropriate, culturally congruent, culturally relevant, cultural diversity, Hispanics, Mexican-American, rural health services, migrant farmworkers
Abstract
The growing number of minority populations living in the United States makes it mandatory that all health care organizations seek to be culturally sensitive. There is no consensus on the definition of the term cultural sensitivity. The goal of this thesis is to define what cultural sensitivity means in a rural health center, from the perspective of the staff as well as the Hispanic patient. Anthropological methods, such as participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and archival data analysis, show that the qualities that Hispanic patients value in a clinic are 1) attention, 2) availability of Spanish language, 3) financial assistance, 4) solution to their health problems, 5) presence of Hispanics around the clinic, and 6) clinic services. Furthermore, 90% of staff responses indicate acceptance and respect of patients health beliefs and practices. Results demonstrate that while the clinic is culturally sensitive, there are a few recommendations that would improve the quality of care that Hispanics receive. Based on the results of the data collection, a practical model for other rural health centers to build upon a culturally sensitive health care system is developed.
Scholar Commons Citation
Ohlinger, Nadine I., "“They Say that this Clinic is for Migrants”: Cultural Sensitivity in a Rural Health Center" (2005). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/798
