Limited English proficiency (LEP) is one of the potentially important factors that separate many immigrants and native born from social, economic, health and health behaviors and from many other dimensions. For immigrants who do not speak English well or at all, language barriers may contribute to health disparities by impeding health related communication. In the existing literature, analyses of the association between language barriers and immigrants’ health and health care behavior have received considerable attention. The literature on both the US and Canada generally finds that limited language-proficient immigrants tend to use the general medical care system less with potentially negative health effects (see for example Pippins et al.,
Racial and ethnic inequalities in healthcare results in non-white patients receiving lower quality care that White patients. Additionally, people who speak limited English encounter more communication issues with doctors and nurses that people whose primary language is English. (AHRQ, 2011). Consequently, as people with chronic conditions utilize more healthcare services, they are more likely to complain of issues with the doctor-patient relationship. They feel as though they are not able to participate in their care, their doctors do not allow them to contribute to their medical decisions and they feel like doctors are not disclosing all information related to care. People who encounter this type of cultural ignorance become dissatisfied with their treatment and overall healthcare experience and are at high risk for negative
Nearly all Haitian immigrants entering the U.S. are poorly educated, illiterate, and speak only Creole, which is seldom seen in written form. Creole is a “pidgin” language, meaning it is a simplified form of a base language with parts of other languages added. These types of languages were frequently used by sailors, pirates, and other trade people to accommodate the span of communication needs they faced. Haitian Creole is thought to have been derived by combining various native African dialects with the French language of their owners. Very few Haitians (10%) can actually speak French, and one’s ability to do so is seen as an indicator of social class. Because of Haitian views that Creole is the language used by the poor and uneducated, many will claim to be able to speak French and become insulted if it is suggested that they speak Creole. This can pose a problem for the healthcare worker trying to find a way to communicate. Often the only interpreters available to a family are their children who have learned English in schools here. This can create conflict within the family therefore a facility provided interpreter usually produces a better outcome. Written materials are often of no use to the Haitian immigrant.
Goode, T. D., Dunne, M. C., & Bronheim, S. M. (2006). The evidence base for cultural and linguisitc competence in healthcare. The Commonweatlh Fund , 1-46.
pp. 197-205 Singleton, K., & Krause, E. (2009). Understanding cultural and linguistic barriers to health literacy. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14(3). United Nations.
Due to America’s diverse population, a language barrier has developed between people of different race. The language barrier has caused numerous fatal accidents. Exhibiting lack of communication skills can not only play an essential role in fatal accidents but also prevent individuals for receiving the proper care after an accident has occurred(Brice). If the medical care provider and the patient cannot communicate effectively then the patient is unable to receive the proper treatment for his or her injuries. Speaking one language can cause society to develop effective communication skills, which can prevent unnecessary accidents from occurring (Dowd).
In the essay “Bilingualism in America: English Should Be the Official Language” (1989) by Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa, he claims that if America wants to be a truly unified country, then there English needs to be set as the official language and wants every person including immigrants to speak it on a normal base. Hayakawa supports his claim by appealing to pathos in the description of how children who are not taught English from an early age will always be behind their peers, he discusses how countries such as Belgium and India have several official languages and how it is “a chaotic mess”, and explains how bilingual programs in California do more harm than good because they start the child off in their native language and never allow them to fully
An interesting phenomenon – the healthy immigrant effect (HIE) – has been observed in many countries, such as Canada, the United States, and Great Britain (Kennedy, McDonald & Biddle 2006). That is, immigrants entering these countries are typically healthier than native-born citizens. Yet, although a clear health gap separates native-born Canadians from new immigrants, it gradually dissipates to the point where the two groups exhibit similar levels of health (McDonald & Kennedy, 2004). Why people who have consistently enjoyed high levels of health for much of their lives would experience such a marked decrease is rather puzzling, but two major contributing factors have been identified – problems in access to healthcare and acculturation – which will be the focus of the following discussion. The former works against immigrants’ health by impeding their access to both preventative and therapeutic care. The latter compounds this effect by creating new and unhealthy behaviours in immigrants, while at the same time acting as a barrier...
How are Hispanics getting help with English and what obstacles or barriers are they facing? That is an extremely good question. Everyday, more and more Hispanics are making a move to the United States in hopes of a better life. The only problem is that many of them can not speak any English at all. Since the United States is basically an English speaking nation, it is important that Hispanics learn English to be able to adjust to life within the United States. But, that is easier said than done because it is not easy to get Hispanics the help that they need in learning English. There have to be people who are willing to tutor and fund programs. Of course, there are always obstacles or barriers that stands in the way of progress.
The use of the husband as a translator has its limitations, for example, the midwife is unable to verify that the information that passes through the translator, meaning it is possible for the husband to withhold or falsify information to either party. In such instances this may be seen as a contributing factor to domestic abuse, as this can either purposely, or inadvertently, affect the health of mother or fetus. Thirty-four, non-English speaking women, died between the antenatal and post-partum period, between 2003 and 2005 (Lewis, 2007). It should be highlighted that not speaking English has only an associated risk of maternal death, rather than causal. This statistic is influenced by many obstetric factors, as well as homicides, thus this
Flores, G., and S. C. Tomany-Korman. (2008): "The Language Spoken at Home and Disparities in Medical and Dental Health, Access to Care, and Use of Services in US Children." Pediatrics 121.6 E1703-1714. Print.
Who is an immigrant? An immigrant is a person who has a citizenship in one country but enters another country to set up as a permanent resident. Sometimes countries are suffering greatly from lack of leadership, internal strife or war, and a collapsed economy. This is the case in Somalia, as well as in Syria, Libya, and Yemen. Syrian people are moving to Europe in order to find a peaceful home. Mexican immigrants come to the US looking for jobs. The people then move to new countries where they don’t speak the national language. In America, when the immigrants come, there are many difficulties: cultural differences regarding time and scheduling, transportation issues, and language difficulties.
In today’s society, especially in the United States, most people are monolingual English speakers. As a result, these monolingual speakers are at a significant disadvantage compared to those who speak more than one language fluently. This disadvantage is crucial to realize since it is important to learn how individuals and the nation can be enhanced. Multilingual speakers have an advantage in global affairs that involve countries that speak different languages. Speaking multiple languages makes it easier to communicate with people when involved in foreign affairs. Those who speak multiple languages are also more aware of other cultures in society. Monolingual speakers are not as exposed to other cultures and have difficulty understanding or even recognizing them. Furthermore, being multilingual increases your
Multicultural health issues can present challenges to providing quality primary care and practitioners are in a strong position to improve the health of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Health care organizations have made intense progresses and revolutions during the last few decades, resulting in rapid growth of technology and theory. Some of the changes are introduction of new health based technology, meeting consumer demand for quality care, increased patient acuity and increases the burden of escalating healthcare expenditure. It focuses on primary health care which is the basic entry level of health care. The principle of primary health care is equity, acceptability, cultural competence, affordability, and
Transitioning from one language to another can be very ecstatic, to some and to others it can be very inconsequential. “Seventy-four percent of Hispanics interviewed in English said they know a second language” (J.M Jones 2013). I work at a job where 95% of the customers speak another language from english and it becomes very difficult for us to communicate at times. Immigrants came to a country where the primary language is English as making this transition they should take into consideration that their language may not be the primary language. I was an immigrant as well not being born in America, coming from Germany when I was quite young, I have an understanding on how difficult it may be to learn a language you’re not familiar with, but it has opened so many opportunities for me that wouldn’t have been available to me if it wasn’t for me learning the country's primary language. Immigrants should be required by law to learn the basics of English.
“I decided to become a teacher because I thought that I could do it better then my teachers did. I quickly learned that teaching isn’t as easy as I thought it would be.” Dr. Proser quickly learned that teaching English would be as easy as he thought it may have been. He may be a better teacher then his were, many CHS students would agree, but also found out that why it was so hard to teach English. There are many reasons why teaching English is difficult. First and major reason is the constant changing, and new words that are being brought into the language. While many of these words that are being are classified as slang, these words may become more and more common. In addition, many of the forms of languages that were used in the writing that students read are no longer used. Also, the change in styles of writing which have occurred make it hard for any student to completely understand what each writer is trying to say.