Evidence-Based Plan for Haiti-Americans

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services has an office of Minority Health. The

office states that cultural competence entails the presence of sufficient capacity which effectively

functions at both the individual and organization setting of cultural beliefs, needs and behaviors.

Since America has become an increasingly diversified nation, cultural competence is important

in improving health of people while eliminating racial and ethnic disparities. For the Haiti-

American cultural group, cultural competency will help in reducing health disparities that have

always negatively impacted this ethnic group.

The fact is that HIV does not discriminate against any cultural group, but the Haitian

American community appears to be overrepresented when it comes to cultural groups that are

affected by the disease (Metayer, Jean-Louis & Madison, 2004). The group, nonetheless, remains

greatly underserved in social and health care services. Immigrants from Haiti have been

undergoing prejudice when receiving health care services in most American neighborhoods.

Each year, a certain number of Haitians immigrate into the United States. These

immigrants become part of the healthcare system (Holcomb, Parsons, Giger, & Davidhizar,

1996). The nurses who handle such immigrants face cultural differences and are therefore,

required to assess their patients for special needs which may come up due to cultural diversity.

Haitian patients are mainly not learned to write any formal language. An example of an

evidence-based plan that could help in improving the health outcomes of Haiti-Americans is

preventive screening for diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

Preventive screening helps people in the community to reduce the health care costs that

would be incurred in the long run. A lot of money would be saved every year in medical costs if
preventive screenings would be increased (Bibbins-Domingo, Grossman, Curry, Davidson,

Epling, García,... & Kurth, 2016). Together with the screenings, the health care providers could

enlighten the community on the need to avoid polygamy lifestyles of men which have been the

main cause of spread of HIV/AIDS. Because of their beliefs, Haiti-Americans often fail to link

STDs such as HIV/AIDS to sexual intercourse (Metayer, Jean-Louis & Madison, 2004). For

instance, Haitian men often and willingly refuse to use contraceptives. Preventive screening

would, therefore help the Haiti-American population have better health outcomes as well as

access treatment, especially for those who are found to be positive.

References

Bibbins-Domingo, K., Grossman, D. C., Curry, S. J., Davidson, K. W., Epling, J. W., García, F.

A., ... & Kurth, A. E. (2016). Screening for colorectal cancer: US Preventive Services Task

Force recommendation statement. Jama, 315(23), 2564-2575.

Holcomb, L. O., Parsons, L. C., Giger, J. N., & Davidhizar, R. (1996). Haitian Americans:

implications for nursing care. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 13(4), 249-260.

Metayer, N., Jean-Louis, E., & Madison, A. (2004). Overcoming historical and institutional

distrust: key elements in developing and sustaining the community mobilization against

HIV in the Boston Haitian community. Ethnicity and Disease, 14(3; SUPP/1), S1-46.