Religio-cultural considerations when providing health care to American Muslims

Cultural competency is important for delivering quality health care, particularly for cultural and religious minorities, and can reduce discrimination and health disparities. Muslim Americans represent diverse ethnic groups yet bound together by a religious identity with common values. This community is generally under-researched and not well understood, and thus receives the less than optimal level of health care that results when providers are not culturally attuned. Accordingly, this chapter reviews the salient religious values, beliefs, and cultural tendencies that impact health care behaviors among this population, and provides guidance regarding cultural accommodations that can promote the delivery of culturally sensitive health care to this community.