HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION AND CULTURAL COMPETENCE FOR MATERNAL HEALTH CARE IN QUILOMBOLA POPULATION
Cultural competency; Culturally competent care; Professional competence; Health occupations.
Introduction: The need to address issues of cultural and ethnic diversity in health education has been suggested as a means to improve quality and reduce disparities in health care.
Methodology: In 2016, the discipline "Cultural Competence in Health Care for Quilombola Women" was implemented as an optional component for courses in the area of health at UFRN. The students participated as part of a multidisciplinary team in the development of actions aimed at prenatal care in the quilombola community Capoeiras dos Negros, in Macaíba-RN
Results: The students' self-perception about the development of cultural competences at the end of the intervention revealed that knowing the health situation of the quilombola population and experiencing inter-professional work can be effective strategies to facilitate the development of cultural competences in the formation of health professions.
Conclusion: In order to train health professionals who are skilled at interacting effectively with ethnically diverse populations, it is critical that students are aware of the processes that influence health as well as experience health care for population minorities.