PRIMARY-CARE FOR WOMEN - CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN PRIMARY-CARE SERVICES

The assessment of cultural competence in providing primary care servic es for women is addressed. Emphasis is placed on the ways in which cul tural competency attainment can ensure the availability of key primary care components to all women, especially those from certain vulnerabl e populations and those who have specific primary health care needs. A cultural competence continuum is described that will assist providers in an assessment of their own cultural competency levels, as well as those of the service settings in which they practice. Six scenarios ar e provided, describing experiences at each level of the continuum that may hinder the development and delivery of effective primary care ser vice interventions. Examples of ways in which nurse-midwives can provi de leadership in the area of cultural competence in women's primary ca re are also included.