The ethnic health handbook - Ghada Karmi

Patterns of disease are known to differ between ethnic groups. For diagnosis and treatment to be effective, it is essential that health care professionals recognized this. The provision of culturally appropriate and sensitive health care depends upon access to reliable information that highlights ethnic minority patterns of disease, customs and lifestyle which may influence health.

The Ethnic Health handbook provides rapidly assimilable information for health care professionals caring for ethnic minority patients in a variety of settings. For ease of reference each entry is arranged alphabetically and follows a standard format. Entries are presented in an abbreviated form to enable busy practitioners to quickly access the relevant information. Compiled in consultation with ethnic community leaders, health workers and representatives of ethnic and religious organizations, the Handbook provides an invaluable source of data on demography, religion, refugee health and the health and customs of all the major ethnic groups in Britain today. A chapter on ethnic monitoring has been included in recognition of the mandatory status of this procedure for all in–patients in England.

Health care professionals concerned with providing an informed, equitable and caring health service will find the Handbook essential reading.

The Ethnic Health Handbook

• Provides easy access to information for all health care professionals caring for ethnic minority patients


• Follows a standard format throughout with entries arranged alphabetically


• Has been compiled in consultation with ethnic community leaders, health workers and representatives of ethnic and religious organizations

Dr Ghada Karmi, MB, PhD, MRCP, FFPHM, is a specialist in Public Health. As the former Head od the first NHS ethnic health unit in Britain, the Health and Ethnicity Programme, she was responsible for research and development of health care for black and ethnic minorities in North Thames Regional Health Authority. Currently she is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, University of Durham.

"The Ethnic Health Handbook is long overdue, well organized and referenced, and is clearly written. As such it is not only a must for nurse managers, but for anyone with an interest and commitment to ethnic health issues.

Mary Hawkey, Journal of Nursing Management, 1997.

"This book is an invaluable reference book, and is highly recommended to anyone working with ethnic groups.

Nirma Phillips, Health Visitor, 1997