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   Part F. Analyzing Community Problems and Designing and Ad... >
      Chapter 19. Choosing and Adapting Community Interventions >
         Section 4. Adapting Community Interventions for Different Cu... >
             Tools & Checklists - A checklist that summarizes the major points contained in the section. >

Adapting Community Interventions for Different Cultures and Communities

  

Tools & Checklists

 Contributed by Eric Wadud and Bill Berkowitz Edited by Bill Berkowitz and Jerry Schultz

Tools
Checklist

Tool #1: Questions to Consider in your Search for Information about the Community

Historical Issues

  • What is the history of the community?
  • What name or names do the cultural groups use to refer to themselves?
  • What is the significance of the different names?
  • What are the major differences between cultural groups in your target community, particularly across generational, educational, socio-economic and geographic lines?
  • What have been the major historical events which describe the target group's experiences in the United States?
  • What were and are the major conflicts between or among the cultural groups in the target community? What were the outcomes?
  • What were and are the major conflicts within each group? What were the outcomes?

Economic and Political Issues

  • What are the different socio-economic levels of groups within the community?
  • What is the political status of each group in the community (e.g. undocumented, refugee, legal immigrant, citizen)?
  • What are the different literacy levels within groups? Are they literate/illiterate in English and/or their own language?
  • What are the different education levels within groups?
  • How is their health status affected by their economic and political status? What are the predominant health problems?
  • How often is medical care used by these different groups? What types of care?
  • What are the organizations that successfully serve the different groups within the target community? Are they governmental, religious, community, social service, political or ethnic in nature?

Culture and Tradition-Specific Issues

  • What are the values of the different groups in the community?
  • How do various members of each cultural group define health and illness?
  • What are some of the more common health beliefs and practices of community groups, both in general and with respect to specific problems?
  • What are the predominant family structures within the community's cultural groups? Patriarchal, matriarchal, single parent household, extended families, etc.?
  • What are some of the traditional roles of different family members in these cultural groups, particularly where health care is concerned?
  • Who are the formal and informal leaders in the community, and what role do they have in the area of health promotion?
  • How many languages and dialects are spoken?
  • What are the formal and informal channels of communication within and between different groups?

Medical Orientation

  • What are the group's general beliefs about the cause, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease?
  • What are the group's attitudes towards "Western" medicine?
  • In general, what has been the experience of different groups when trying to access the health care system?
  • To what extent is there use of traditional medicine or healers?
  • Where do people go for health information?

Diet

  • What are traditional foods, and what role do they play in health, religion, and social activities?
  • How has diet here in the U.S. changed over time as compared to in their country of origin?
  • Is there access to foods that constitute traditional diet? Are there acceptable substitutes?

Religion

  • What are the different religions practiced within the cultural groups in the community?
  • How is practice of their religion influenced by their culture?
  • What is the size of membership, and who are the members?
  • Who are the religious leaders, and what is their role in the larger community?
  • Are there conflicts among or within the various religious groups?
  • What involvement do various religious groups have in the area of health education and promotion?
  • Do religious beliefs conflict with the philosophy of health promotion? Can the beliefs be incorporated into your program?

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Checklist

Here, you'll find a checklist summarizing the major points contained in the text.

___You understand what it means to adapt interventions for different cultural traditions.

___You understand why you should adapt interventions.

___You understand when you should adapt interventions.

___You understand when you don't need to adapt an intervention.

___You understand how to adapt interventions to different cultural traditions:

___You have determined that the intervention is worth adapting.

___You have decided that you want to do the adaptation.

___You have decided that it is your role to direct the adaptation.

___You are culturally ready to take on the role.

___You have checked the readiness of your target group.

___You have made the commitment to do the adaptation.

___You have set specific objectives.

___You have done some research.

___You have talked to people in that cultural setting.

___You have spent some time in that cultural setting.

___You have proposed your intervention.

___You have asked for feedback.

___You have incorporated that feedback (or have a good reason why you didn't).

___You have found some people in that cultural community who will work together with you.

___You have planned and executed your intervention.


You know what to do in the following situations:

___If conflicts arise

___If cultural groups really don't understand each other

___If materials need translation

___If the adaptation involves several different cultural groups

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