Polynesian Obstetric Health Promotion: Cultural Influence Report

This report explores the influence of cultural diversity on obstetric health promotion, with a specific focus on the Polynesian community. It highlights how cultural beliefs shape patient attitudes towards healthcare, emphasizing the need for culturally competent care, particularly for pregnant and postpartum women. The report contrasts Western and traditional health beliefs within the Polynesian culture, examining how they approach illness and well-being. It discusses the integration of traditional practices, such as prayer and natural remedies, with modern medical approaches to improve obstetric health outcomes. The conclusion underscores the importance of understanding and accommodating diverse cultural perspectives to enhance healthcare delivery, advocating for a comprehensive approach to obstetric health promotion that considers both medical and cultural factors. The report references several scholarly articles that support the findings.

Running Head: OBSTETRIC HEALTH PROMOTION 1
Polynesian Obstetric Health Promotion
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OBSTETRIC HEALTH PROMOTION 2
Effect of cultural diversity on medical care
Different cultural beliefs most times affect patient attitude towards health care provision
by the medics. Although some patients may be free to the difference in practice, others may be
very rigid to cultural practices and beliefs. The cultural beliefs of a nation are the ones that to a
greater extent, influence the healthcare provision. Although there is cultural diversity these days
in America, it has been difficult since different cultures have their own ways. Therefore, a focus
has been put on culturally competent care, especially to the pregnant and post-partum patients
who are immigrant mothers (Butler et al, 2016). A client background has a great deal to do with
when it comes to expectations and needs during pregnancy and giving birth, up to the ways they
raise children. Some cultures prefer home childbirth, while others prefer formal health care to
reduce obstetric complications (Ekeroma, 2019).
Polynesian obstetric health promotion
Maternal healthcare promotion is very essential and crucial for a culturally diverse nation
(Esiyok, Çakar & Kurtulmuşoğlu, 2017). Therefore, culturally competent care should be
provided. In the Polynesian culture, it’s believed that the generality of its health promotion is
influenced by western and traditional health beliefs. When a situation or illness nature is seen to
be medical, they seek medical solutions rather than any other type of medication. In western
culture, an illness is most times rooted in an individual patient, but in the traditional culture,
there is always an association with supernatural factors. Therefore, when illness strikes, the
cultural beliefs are sought like prayer and natural medication. To this culture, it’s almost
impossible for them to understand sickness before attending to cultural beliefs and practices.
They, therefore, trace health and wellbeing from an indigenous perspective. The formal health

OBSTETRIC HEALTH PROMOTION 3
sector and other agencies due to this factor have come up with research on a healthy lifestyle
(Willems, Hilgenkamp, Havik, Waninge & Melville, 2017). They have sought the best way to
promote Polynesian obstetric health. They have taken cultural health practices like understanding
the cause of illness and healing of certain diseases that at times can only be treated by the local
medications as well the medical care is sought if the illness can only be handled by the medical
sector.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there has been a tremendous cultural influence on medical provision where
individuals have a diverse way of dealing with medical conditions. This challenge has been
looked into, and a more culturally competent way of dealing with medical conditions has been
sought, which is the Polynesian culture way of obstetric health promotion involving both
traditional and medical health provision.

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References
Butler, M., McCreedy, E., Schwer, N., Burgess, D., Call, K., Przedworski, J., ... & Kane, R. L.
(2016). Improving cultural competence to reduce health disparities.M., McCreedy, E.,
Schwer, N., Burgess, D., Call, K., Przedworski, J., ... & Kane, R. L. (2016). Improving
cultural competence to reduce health disparities.
Ekeroma, A. (2019). Survey of Pacific Islands Obstetrics and Gynaecology workforce
characteristics, workload and training needs. Title. BRIAN SPURRET ORATION
2019, 1(9), 485-494.
Esiyok, B., Çakar, M., & Kurtulmuşoğlu, F. B. (2017). The effect of cultural distance on medical
tourism. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 6(1), 66-75.
Willems, M., Hilgenkamp, T. I., Havik, E., Waninge, A., & Melville, C. A. (2017). Use of
behaviour change techniques in lifestyle change interventions for people with intellectual
disabilities: A systematic review. Research in developmental disabilities, 60, 256-268.