A mosaic of medicine: Acquainting pharmacy education with the rich tapestry of African-descent immigrant cultures

Abstract

There is an increasing number of African-descent immigrants to the United States, often from the Caribbean, South America, and Africa. These immigrants tend to have different healthcare needs than native-born Black Americans because they come from diverse backgrounds with unique cultural health practices and beliefs. While these immigrants may be healthier when they initially present to the United States, research has found that this health advantage is not long-lasting. Acculturation, cultural beliefs, systemic, and social factors have been closely linked to the health and well-being of Black immigrants, especially with increased years of residency in the United States. Culturally competent care involves understanding the influence of culture, ethnicity, and social factors on health. It is crucial that student pharmacists are trained in understanding the cultural considerations of our continuously evolving and diverse patients. While pharmacy schools have begun incorporating cultural competency and implicit bias training in PharmD curricula, there is still room for improvement to bring about meaningful change in health outcomes. This review calls for an end to oversimplified views of Black immigrant health, advocates for better recognition of distinct African-descent cultures, and recommends tools and strategies to incorporate this population into multicultural pharmacy education.