Provides demographic and cultural background on the Soviet Jewish community in Seattle, Washington, focusing on its experience gaining access to health care services. Part of a series of profiles of underserved ethnic communities developed by the Seattle-based Cross Cultural Health Care Program, this survey is intended to help health care providers offer culturally appropriate care. Written by and in consultation with members of Seattle?s Russian Jewish community, this profile contains information about Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union who have arrived in the United States to escape persecution and violence, including: language and social differences between the dominant Ashkenazim from the European republics of the Soviet Union and the Sephardim from Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan; the size and places of resettlement of the Soviet Jewish population in Seattle; the social value of education; family life, community organizations, and religious practices; traditional health care practices, including the belief that folk medicine is less harmful than chemical medications; attitudes toward medical care, including focus on the underlying causes of disease; and barriers to receiving medical care, including fear of acknowledging mental illness. Also contains suggestions that health care professionals can follow to work more effectively with their Soviet Jewish patients.
