Cultural determinants of health: an approach to promoting equity

Abstract

This article discusses the use of a socio-anthropological approach to the health-disease process as a way of dealing with health inequities. Considering that cultural elements have been poorly treated in the approaches on the Social Determinants of Health, this article explores the idea that ethnic and cultural factors may be related to producing inequalities in health by exposing segments of the population to a more vulnerable condition. The aim, therefore, is to contribute to the challenge of aggregating emerging or repressed ethnic and cultural health related needs to the consolidated current model of care and attention. To do this, we consider, on the one hand, uses of the issue of diversity in the contemporary context and, on the other, the issue of “incompleteness” also related to the institutions created. It suggests, finally, the opportunity presented by the focus of interest of this discussion of cultural aspects relating to worldviews and, in particular, the experience of communities of “terreiros”.