Abstract
Caring for our Muslim patients: A call for cultural competency training among health care providers in the United States
Heba Abolaban, MD, MPH1 and Muna Bashir, CD, CCE, MA-MCHS2
(1)Stanford University, Stanford, CA, (2)Bastyr University, Santa Clara, CA
APHA's 2020 VIRTUAL Annual Meeting and Expo (Oct. 24 - 28)
The millions of Muslims living in the United States represent numerous racial and ethnic groups from around the world. While the diversity within the community cannot be underestimated, without developing an awareness about how the Islamic faith unifies these various groups and influences their attitudes and behaviors toward seeking care, it would be difficult for our current health systems to optimally provide culturally-competent and person-centered care, improve health outcomes, boost quality of care, and build health equity for all. Hundreds of health professionals in Massachusetts have benefited from a cultural competency training to better serve their Muslim patients. This training workshop both educates and sensitizes health providers on a myriad of topics that include modesty concerns, patient-provider interactions, dealing with fasting patients during Ramadan, dietary/medication needs, breastfeeding in Islam, newborn rituals, and maternity services unique to Muslim patients. As a result, health care providers can develop tools and strategies to meet the needs of this patient population more effectively, while avoiding common pitfalls that may arise when caring for their Muslim patients.
Advocacy for health and health education Assessment of individual and community needs for health education Diversity and culture Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs Public health administration or related administration Public health or related education