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Poverty and Spiritual Life: Impact on Health and Nursing Care in Uganda

York College of Pennsylvania

Barbara Cechanowicz, RN, BSN, MSPAS

University of Detroit Mercy

Competency in cultural sensitivity is an essential skill for health care practitioners. One strategy for improving cultural sensitivity is through a cultural immersion experience. This article reflects the experience of two university faculty members, on completion of a cultural immersion experience. The article describes the experience and the cultural practices identified that influence health and nursing care in two hospitals in Uganda. The cultural practices appear to be influenced by the severe poverty that plagues the nation, as well as the vibrant spiritual life of the nation. The observations are generalizations about caregiver role, nurse—patient relationship, meaning of illness, and gender role in the culture as they relate to nursing care. The intent is to depict the wide gap between norms for nursing practice that were observed in Uganda in contrast with nursing practice in the United States. This content would serve as a primer for any provider preparing for a cross-cultural health care experience in Uganda.

Key Words: culture • Uganda • nursing • practice • norms • spirituality

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