TY  - CHAP
M1  - Book, Section
TI  - Impact of Traditional African American Cultures on Healthcare Practices
A1  - Holloway Barbosa, Victoria
A2  - Kelly, A. Paul
A2  - Taylor, Susan C.
A2  - Lim, Henry W.
A2  - Serrano, Ana Maria Anido
PY  - 2016
T2  - Taylor and Kelly's Dermatology for Skin of Color, 2e
AB  - KEY  POINTSOver  15.5%  of  the  world’s  population  is  made  up  of  people  of  African  descent,  whether  based  in  sub-Saharan  Africa  or  living  elsewhere.  In  the  United  States,  there  were  more  than  42  million  residents  of  African  descent  in  2010,  representing  over  13%  of  the  population.  Additionally,  the  number  of  individuals  self-identifying  as  “multiracial”  has  grown  substantially  in  the  last  10  years.Cultural  and  racial  identities  have  a  direct  impact  on  a  patient’s  diagnosis,  treatment  options,  and  healthcare  practices.  Therefore,  it  is  vital  that  treating  physicians  recognize  the  beliefs  and  cultural  context  of  each  patient  so  as  to  fully  understand  the  patient’s  individual  health  concerns  and  conditions  and  subsequently  be  able  to  recommend  effective  treatments.Although  much  of  African  American  culture  in  the  United  States  originates  from  African  traditions,  a  distinctly  African  American  experience  is  now  apparent,  separate  from  the  “traditional”  African  culture.  As  time  passes,  African  American  culture  will  continue  to  change  and  evolve  with  each  new  generation.There  are  significant  disparities  in  health  status  and  service  utilization  between  African  Americans  and  other  ethnic  groups.  Certain  factors  have  been  identified  that  play  a  role  in  this  disparity  between  patient  populations,  including  the  accessibility  of  care,  differences  in  treatment-seeking  behaviors  between  groups,  and  a  lack  of  trust  in  physicians  and  the  medical  system  in  general.In  the  African  American  community,  hair  care  is  considered  vitally  important,  and  individual  hairstyles  may  have  social,  political,  and  esthetic  implications.  Today,  a  vast  selection  of  hairstyles  is  currently  in  fashion  among  African  American  individuals,  each  of  which  can  have  various  associated  dermatologic  concerns,  such  as  pomade  acne,  irritant  contact  dermatitis,  or  relaxer-induced  scarring  alopecia.Many  African  American  patients  hold  inaccurate  beliefs  regarding  skin  and  hair  care,  for  instance,  regarding  the  need  for  sun  protection  or  ways  to  encourage  hair  growth.  Physicians  should  take  a  thorough  history  from  each  patient  so  as  to  be  able  to  dispel  these  common  misconceptions  and  perhaps  prescribe  a  more  effective  treatment  for  any  underlying  conditions.  
SN  - 
PB  - McGraw-Hill Education
CY  - New York, NY
Y2  - 2024/04/16
UR  - dermatology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1161544294
ER  -