Addressing limited English proficiency and disparities for Hispanic postpartum women.
The National Institutes of Health Office of Minority Health challenges health providers to eliminate health disparities for Hispanic women, especially those women with limited English proficiency. This article addresses this challenge by identifying areas of health disparities for low-risk postpartum Hispanic women with limited English proficiency, by describing the legal basis for improving language access, and by proposing implementation of Office of Minority Health national guidelines. Health providers can use a social equity framework to support improvements in communication practices when language differs.
Pope
Charlene
C
Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Nursing, Charleston, South Carolina, PO Box 250160, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. popec@musc.edu
D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D006304:Health Status; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D019303:Multilingualism; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000208:ethnology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D016746:Transcultural Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D014175:Translating; D014481:United States; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000208:ethnology