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Cultural concepts of women's health and health-promoting behaviors.

Spector RE.

Boston College School of Nursing, Chestnut Hill, MA 02167, USA.

Cultural diversity is the reality of the 1990s, and the United States is becoming the most ethnically diverse society in the world. The needs and responses of many different racial and ethnic groups are competing for recognition, and nurses must learn how to meet the health care needs of this multicultural society. This article explores cultural concepts relating to women's health and health-promoting behaviors in the context of this social change. It explores demographic change, concepts of heritage consistency, traditional health beliefs, and traditional health-promoting behaviors.