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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Lance Laird, ThD, Boston University School of Medicine, 91 east Concord Street, Room 4217, Boston, MA 02118, 617-414-3660, lance.laird@bmc.org

This presentation will discuss the treatment of religious freedom and non-discrimination on the basis of religion in major human rights documents, in relation to health care provision. On the one hand, systematic discrimination and violence against religious minorities increase physical and mental health vulnerability, and affect access to care. On the other, many public health initiatives now add “spiritual well-being” to the WHO's definition of health; studies on spirituality and health abound; and accommodation of religious differences is an increasingly important part of “culturally competent care.” This presentation will discuss current studies and controversies concerning religion-based public health initiatives in Southern Africa, the Middle East, and the United States. It will conclude by raising questions about the intersection of human rights and cultural competence in the provision of religiously appropriate health care.

Learning Objectives:

• identify and describe major international human rights declarations and treaties related to religion.
• describe the relationships among different conceptions of “religion” and religious discrimination in human rights, health, and healing literature.

Keywords: Vulnerable Populations, Religion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No