Aspects of Culture that Impact Health Care
Health care is affected by multiple factors, and culture is one of them. Culture involves the social behavior, lifestyles, beliefs, and customs of individuals in a society. Therefore, the lifestyle, beliefs, and customs of individuals will affect their health and may or may not lead to illnesses. The aspects of culture that affect health care include cultural beliefs, social support networks, education, and social status (Austin and Wetle, 2011).
Cultural beliefs
Cultural beliefs on health practices can hinder the well-being of individuals. Health beliefs vary amongst various cultures (Nielsen-Bohlman, 2004). The response given to certain diseases and their treatment varies between different cultures. In some cultures, people believe that illnesses result from curses or vengeance of nature, which leaves them without advanced medication that would cure them of ailments.
Social support networks
Support offered within a community affects health care within that society. In most cultural communities, a certain family or person is consulted before a medical decision is made (Austin and Wetle, 2011). Whatever that individual or family decides will be followed through, which is risky because they might not agree with the necessary health procedures needed.
Education
In most communities, people are illiterate, limiting them when it comes to health care issues (Nielsen-Bohlman, 2004). Illiteracy is what makes them susceptible to cultural beliefs due to a lack of knowledge. Awakening communities by providing them with healthcare-related knowledge allows them to seek medical assistance when ailing.
Social status
In most communities, people with high income or wealth have high social status compared to others (Austin and Wetle, 2011). These people are, therefore, accorded better services than the rest. When they fall ill, the best medical practitioners are made available to them. The situation changes for those in lower social classes without such privileges.
In conclusion, healthcare is affected by the culture practiced by different people. In most cases, culture has a negative impact on health care; however, educating people in a community will erase the negativity culture poses to health care.
References
Austin, A. and Wetle, V., 2011. The United States Health Care System: Combining Business, Health, and Delivery. 2nd ed. Pearson Education, Inc.
Nielsen-Bohlman, L., 2004. Health literacy. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.
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Question 
List 4 aspects of culture that impact health care.
Aspects of Culture that Impact Health Care
The United States Health Care System: Combining Business,