Understanding the social and cultural factors that influence one’s health beliefs and behaviours is important for professionals working with newcomers to Canada. The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) provides this resource for health professionals working with immigrant and refugee children and youth.
Key points include:
- Accurate assessment of any newcomer child or youth requires complete, optimal communication without misunderstandings on either side. Often this can only be achieved in collaboration with an interpreter.
- Engage a trained cultural interpreter for your newcomer patients whenever possible.
- There are certain risks involved with using a patient’s family members or friends as interpreters. Avoid the use of children and youth as interpreters.
The CPS also provides a guide, Cultural Competence for Child and Youth Health Professionals, for those working with immigrant and refugee children and youth. Cultural competence is defined as “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 situations”.
Published By: Canadian Paediatric Society, Caring for Kids New to Canada
Publication Date: last updated July, 2023
Click here to access Using Interpreters in Health Care Settings
