RESUMO
RESUMEN Este artículo estudia la función del guía bilingüe como actor en la disminución de la brecha en el acceso y la atención en salud de las comunidades indígenas wayuu de Colombia. En el marco de un proyecto de VIH llevado a cabo entre los años 2012 y 2014, se realizaron 24 entrevistas a actores claves del área administrativa y de salud, incluyendo guías bilingües wayuu. A partir del análisis cualitativo se identificaron tres barreras culturales respecto al acceso a la atención en salud: a) idioma; b) cosmovisión wayuu sobre el cuerpo, la salud y la enfermedad; c) información sobre salud sexual y reproductiva y VIH culturalmente no adaptada. El estudio identifica al guía bilingüe como actor clave en la disminución de estas barreras y finaliza con una discusión sobre el rol de los guías, las tensiones inherentes a su labor, y la complejidad de su aporte como mediadores culturales.
ABSTRACT The article examines the use of bilingual guides to decrease cultural barriers to health care access in the Wayuu indigenous communities of Colombia. Within a larger project on HIV carried out between 2012 and 2014, 24 interviews were conducted with key actors in the administrative and health areas, including Wayuu bilingual guides. As a result of the qualitative analysis, the study identified three cultural barriers to health care access: a) language; b) the Wayuu worldview regarding the body, health, and illness; and c) information about sexual and reproductive health and HIV not adapted to the Wayuu culture. The study identifies the bilingual guides as key actors in reducing these barriers and concludes with a discussion of the role of the guides, the tensions inherent to their work, and the complexity of their contributions as cultural mediators.
Assuntos
Humanos , Barreiras de Comunicação , Grupos Populacionais , Competência Cultural , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde , ColômbiaRESUMO
The article examines the use of bilingual guides to decrease cultural barriers to health care access in the Wayuu indigenous communities of Colombia. Within a larger project on HIV carried out between 2012 and 2014, 24 interviews were conducted with key actors in the administrative and health areas, including Wayuu bilingual guides. As a result of the qualitative analysis, the study identified three cultural barriers to health care access: a) language; b) the Wayuu worldview regarding the body, health, and illness; and c) information about sexual and reproductive health and HIV not adapted to the Wayuu culture. The study identifies the bilingual guides as key actors in reducing these barriers and concludes with a discussion of the role of the guides, the tensions inherent to their work, and the complexity of their contributions as cultural mediators.
