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Australian Journal of Primary Health Australian Journal of Primary Health Society
The issues influencing community health services and primary health care
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Demystifying cultural sensitivity and equity of care

Anton N. Isaacs
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

Indigenous Health Unit, Monash University Department of Rural and Indigenous Health, PO Box 973, Moe, Vic. 3825, Australia. Email: anton.isaacs@monash.edu

Australian Journal of Primary Health 19(1) 2-2 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY12054
Submitted: 2 May 2012  Accepted: 16 July 2012   Published: 28 August 2012

Abstract

While most health professionals would like to believe that the care they provide is culturally sensitive, a poor understanding of the concepts of cultural sensitivity and equity of care often results in the contrary. In order to ensure equity of care for all its clients, it becomes necessary for health services to provide care that is culturally sensitive. This letter attempts to explain these concepts with the help of two everyday examples.


References

Equal Opportunities Commission of Western Australia (2011) About Substantive Equality. Perth: Equal Opportunities Commission of Western Australia. Available at http://www.eoc.wa.gov.au/Substantiveequality/AboutSubstantiveEquality.aspx [Verified 20 September 2011]

Foronda CL (2008) A concept analysis of cultural sensitivity. Journal of Transcultural Nursing 19, 207–212.
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Taylor K, Guerin P (2010) ‘Health care and indigenous Australians: cultural safety in practice.’ 1st edn. (Palgrave Macmillan: Melbourne)