________________________________________________________________ Cultural Humility in Healthcare
Data show that the population varies significantly by region of birth and race. Healthcare professionals must be aware of the populations they serve to practice cultural humility.
FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION BY REGION OF BIRTH 2022
Region
Number of People (thousands)
Percentage
Africia
2,753
6.0%
Asia
14,350
33.1% 10.2%
Europe
4,729
Northern American
829
1.8%
Mexico
10,680 3,957 3,971 4,637 46,180
23.1%
Other Central America
8.6% 8.6%
South America
Caribbean
10.0%
Total
100.0%
Based on data from the United States Census Bureau (2024a). Tables 2-4 provide a breakdown of the US population by race.
Table 1
POPULATION BY RACE SELF-IDENTIFICATION IN 2022 Race Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) Black (non-Hispanic)
58.9% 12.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native (non-Hispanic)
0.7%
Asian (non-Hispanic) 6.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic) 0.2% Multiracial (non-Hispanic) 2.4% Hispanic or Latino 19.1% Based on data from the United States Census Bureau (2024b). Healthcare professionals must be careful not to make sweep- ing generalizations regarding characteristics or needs of any population. Further, patients are influenced by a variety of factors including level of acculturation (to be discussed later), immigration experience, experiences with discrimination, and ability to speak English. Therefore, it is imperative for healthcare professionals to ask patients about their personal experiences and important events in their lives. Some cultural generalizations may help clinicians increase their knowledge of specific cultures and enhance their understanding of a portion of patients’ differing experiences. However, this is not intended to shift the healthcare professional’s focus away from develop- ing a better understanding of the dynamics of race, immigra- tion, and other facets of diversity within the current social, economic, and political environment of the U.S. Healthcare professionals are better prepared to both understand and help their patients if they are able to understand the cultural climate in which their diverse patients live and that climate’s role in accommodating or marginalizing them. Moreover, healthcare
Table 2
professionals will provide better care for their patients if they develop a better understanding of how they personally are accommodated and marginalized by American culture. Race, ethnicity, and immigration status are only a few of the facets of diversity that affect patients. Other facets of diversity include socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and gender identification. These facets of diversity can serve as dimensions that marginalize and/or oppress patients as well. POVERTY Poverty is often a consequence of immigrants who have fled war zones, disaster areas, and regions of extreme high unem- ployment. The official poverty rate in 2023 was 11.1%, down 0.4% from 2022. In 2023, there were 36.8 million people in poverty, not statistically different from 2022 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020c).
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