Cultural Competence in Health Communication

Abstract

This study examines the role of cultural competence in health communication within the Nigerian healthcare context, with the primary objectives of identifying the cultural factors that influence health communication, examining the impact of cultural incompetence on
health outcomes and determining the strategies for promoting cultural competence in health communication. The study is anchored on cultural competence theory which posits that effective communication and service delivery in diverse cultural contexts require
awareness, knowledge and skills. The findings revealed that cultural beliefs, language barriers, social norms and gender roles significantly impact patient-provider interactions and health outcomes and that cultural incompetence among healthcare providers can lead to adverse health outcomes. It was concluded that cultural competence is crucial for effective health communication in Nigeria's diverse healthcare landscape and recommended that healthcare educators, organisations and policymakers prioritise
cultural competence training, professional development and national strategies to promote cultural competence.