Cultural Practices that Affect Health Essay

The Community Health Nurse (CHN), an man-to-man who works outside of the hospital setting and typically with a particular proposition confederacy to provide basic health do outlines (All nurse Schools, 2009) roll in the hay be perceived as the bridge to address the gap in the midst of western medicine and cultural traditions. In models when cultural practices cause carnal harm and health risks, the CHN can be the tool to provide tuition and educate individuals to inform them of the tangible health risks and often permanent indemnification caused by such practices. What is in addition important to acknowledge is that thither is an close health risk that subscribe tos to be addressed.According to Megan Costello (2004), in an term about female circumcision, sometimes making a practice irregular does not serve as a good enough deterrent. Costello (2004) explains that what battalion need is more information to understand the health risks and the unwarranted, in name of perceived health benefit, practice. In North African countries, an average of 94 percent of women are subjected to female circumcision (Brigham and Womens Hospital, 2008). In the United States there are an estimated 228,000 girls and women at risk of female circumcision (Brigham and Womens Hospital, 2008).The CHN by community agencies or organizations can work to create armorial bearing systems that will assist the dissemination of information. The CHN can effect policy change that will trifle health care to the disadvantage populations or minority groups, such as refugees, who may have little understanding of western health care systems. Essentially, to address the gap between large health care innovation and individual members of small communities, the CHN has the task of developing a system that will inform members of these groups of the serious harm caused by their practices.Similarly, the CHN through the same system can protect the young adults often subjected to these tra ditional practices. In the case of female circumcision, Bien Aime of Equality Now (quoted in Costello, 2004) says, people need education. We need people on the ground who have access to girls and young women at risk, to help them understand that not only is this procedure against the law, but also that there are harmful effects. As more and more cultures and pagan backgrounds are assimilated through migration activities there is a need to provide health care that is culturally competent.The CHN becomes integral in the task of providing adequate care to all individuals with equity regardless of cultural or ethnic backgrounds through a sensitive approach. In cases where the cultural practice causes permanent injuries and draw out negative complications to health the CHN can contribute to changing these practices. References All Nursing Schools. (2009). Become a Community Health Nurse. All Nursing Schools. Retrieved prove 7, 2009, from http//www. allnursingschools.com/faqs/communi ty-health-nurse. php Brigham and Womens Hospital. (2008). African Womens Health Center. Brigham and Womens Hospital. Retrieved March 7, 2009 from http//www. brighamandwomens. org/africanwomenscenter/FGCprevalence. aspx and http//www. brighamandwomens. org/africanwomenscenter/education. aspx? subID=submenu4 Costello, A. (2004, February 19). dickens in U. S. Accused of Genital Mutilation. Womens E News. Retrieved March 7, 2009 from http//www. womensenews. org/article. cfm/dyn/ tutelage/1718