Mushfequr Rahman (U): Cultural Competence in Sexual and Mental Health Programs across South Asian and Arab American Communities

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing disparities across demographic lines such as race, gender, and religion among others. For example, domestic violence cases against women, mental health services, and the need for interpreters in healthcare have increased after the onset of the pandemic. Mitigating these disparities require culturally competent programs to properly care for diverse communities. In my research, I examine how organizations serving South Asian American and Arab American communities incorporate cultural competency in their sexual and mental health programs, especially in light of the pandemic. There is scarce literature on mental and sexual health about these communities, emphasizing the need for such research. This research is conducted with the help of Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services (ACCESS) in Dearborn, Michigan and the South Asian Sexual & Mental Health Alliance (SASMHA) in Washington, D.C.