Cultural competence of health care providers refers to the ability to understand and respond effectively to the cultural and linguistic needs brought by patients to the health care setting. Cultural competence has been defined as “the level of knowledge based skills required to provide effective clinical care to patients from a particular ethnic or racial group” (U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Professions. Retrieved May 1, 2006, from http://www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/diversity/definitions.htm). An alternate definition is that “cultural and linguistic competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural settings” (U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Retrieved May 1, 2006, from www.omhrc.gov/clas/po.htm). A closely related concept, cultural sensitivity, is the ability to “adjust one’s perceptions, behaviors, and practice styles to effectively meet the needs of different ethnic or racial groups” (U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Professions. Retrieved May 1, 2006, from http://www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/diversity/definitions.htm).

Determinants of health refer to “the range of personal, social, economic, and environmental factors which determine the health status of individuals and populations” (World Health Organization, 1998, p. 6). The 1986 Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion stresses that the fundamental conditions or determinants of health are peace, shelter, food, education, income, a stable eco-system, sustainable resources, and access and equity. The Public Health Agency of Canada (2002a) specifically identifies that the “key factors which influence population health are: income and social status; social support networks; education; employment/ working conditions; social environments; physical environments; personal health practices and coping skills; healthy child development; biology and genetic endowment; health services; gender; and culture”
(http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ph-sp/phdd/resources/subject_determinants.html).

Health is usually defined broadly as not just the absence of disease but as including all aspects of an individual’s health – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. In this way, health is defined as a human right. Health is affected by many determinants. Health is seen as a resource that we need for everyday living and is a concept that emphasizes social as well as physical capacities.
(http://www.who.int/healthpromotion/conferences/previous/ottawa/en/)