It would of course be invaluable to collect information first-hand; our local department of general practice offers grants to doctors who wish to visit Bangladesh for a sabbatical. Some doctors take the trouble to learn the language of the largest minority ethnic group, or to read up about them. Where time is limited, it is more important than ever to check that trainees have an open yet sensitive attitude, and that they maintain enough energy to continue learning. One important aspect is to be able to watch for set and ritualized responses in oneself.
Other authors have sought to provide a catalogue of the practices and customs of all the different cultural groups found in the UK today. These are tabulated against attitudes to different contraceptive practices as a sort of ready-reckoner for the health worker. This approach is limited in its relevance to what actually goes on in the clinic or surgery, and quickly goes out of date. The Bengali people who can come to live in Britain are not identical culturally to those in Bangladesh. Both communities are changing, and the different generations will readily demonstrate the lack of uniformity in one ethnic group.
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