Interrelationships of Epistemologies of the South and cross-cultural care in health and Nursing practices

Abstract

Objective

to reflect on the interrelationships of transcultural care and the Epistemologies of the South of health and Nursing practices.

Method

this is a reflective study, based on a narrative review of the literature, highlighting the concepts of abyssal line, ecology of knowledge, and decolonization of knowledge from the framework of the Epistemologies of the South.

Results

after the reflective analysis of the material, three reflexive axes emerged, namely: Populations south of the abyssal line; Ecology of knowledge and interculturality; and Decolonization of knowledge in health and nursing practices: culturally congruent care.

Final considerations and implications for practice

the appreciation of the self-care culture of vulnerable population groups south of the abyssal line is essential to create opportunities for visibility and voice removed by the colonization process in the health field, as a result of the overvaluation of biomedical knowledge. There is a need for dialogue between knowledge to build an environment of mutual learning, characterized as the ecology of knowledge. For this, the decolonization process is needed from the perspective of post-abyssal thinking, with the appreciation of popular knowledge, in favor of culturally congruent care. Finally, in nursing, the framework of the Theory of Universality and Diversity of Cultural Care equips nurses to plan and implement sensitive transcultural care.

Keywords:
Delivery of Health Care; Knowledge; Cultural Diversity; Transcultural Nursing; Vulnerable Populations