Volume 24, Issue 102, March - April, 2020

Cultural competency framework for Masters of Public Health (MPH) Program: Calling for Action

Quazi Syed Zahiruddin¹, Abhay Gaidhane^2♦, Shilpa Gaidhane³, Mahalaqua Nazli Khatib⁴, Sanjay Zodpey⁵

¹Professor Community Medicine, J N Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra, India Email: zahirquazi@gmail.com
²Professor & Head Community Medicine, J N Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra, India, Email: abhaygaidhane@gmail.com
³J N Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
⁴Head Division of Evidence Synthesis, Professor Physiology, J N Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences Wardha, Maharashtra, India
⁵Vice President (North) and Director Public Health Education, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India Email: sanjay.zodpey@phfi.org

^♦Corresponding author
Professor & Head Community Medicine, J N Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra, India Email: abhaygaidhane@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Cultural diversity is viewed as one of the factors responsible for health inequality. Providing efficient health care to culturally diverse population is a challenge. This study was conducted to assess the extent to which curriculum of MPH programs incorporate cultural competencies and to develop a cultural competency framework for inclusion in MPH curriculum. Curriculum scan of MPH programs, literature review and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with key stakeholders were conducted for data collection and designing framework of cultural competencies. Thirty-one institutions offer MPH programs in India. The curriculum is variable with very limited focus on cultural competencies. Literature review indicated a felt need for incorporating culture competencies in MPH curriculum and to equip graduates to provide health services to culturally diverse group and reduce health disparity. Public health graduates and professionals experience several challenges due to lack of understanding and skills to provide health services to culturally diverse population groups. Desired cultural competencies across three learning domains were identified. Institutes need to redesign curriculum, sensitize their faculty to deliver cultural competency framework to graduates and undertake assessment with focus on cultural competencies. It is the responsibility of schools of public health to incorporate cultural competency frameworks in their MPH programs and ensure that graduates have all desired knowledge; skills and attitude to address needs of diverse populations and function successfully in a multicultural work environment.

Keywords: Cultural competency, Masters of Public Health (MPH) program, Public Health Education, Curriculum

Medical Science, 2020, 24(102), 776-785

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