CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND SPEECH THERAPY: BARRIERS TO THE HEALTH CARE OF MIGRANT POPULATIONS

Abstract

In the hospital, encounters between professionals and patients from different cultures take place.

Sometimes, in these encounters, there are interferences in the communication that generate barriers in the communication.

As speech therapy is a discipline devoted to communication and language, it is important to reflect on the actions, the way of thinking and acting in such encounters, in order to optimize the quality of care provided.

The objective is to describe the barriers that operate in the Speech Therapy care of child language disorders in migrant populations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Descriptive study, mixed, retrospective, cross-sectional and observational approach. The instruments used for data collection were: self-administered questionnaire, in-depth interviews and review of medical records. The data were analyzed in three categories: 1) cultural differences as a challenge in care, 2) lack of tools for approaching culturally diverse populations, 3) prejudice towards the migrant population.

RESULTS

More information is recorded on the child's place of origin than on that of the parents/cohabitants. The percentage is lower when professionals inquire about the languages of cohabitants. Challenges in care and obstacles in adherence to treatment due to cultural differences were recorded. The professionals consider it necessary to have more training and tools to manage in these contexts.

CONCLUSIONS

Barriers were observed in all categories of analysis. It is important to identify these communicative interferences and make them visible in order to overcome them.