
2. USAID-Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) Partnership, Eldoret, Kenya.
3. The Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, IN, USA.
4. Department of Child Health and Paediatrics, Moi University School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya.
Background: Addressing health disparities in the global community requires awareness of how cultural differences in beliefs, traditions, norms, and values shape health problems and behaviors.
Review: This paper reviews methods of assessing health behaviors, how these assessments may be affected by cross-cultural differences, and methods of adaptation of health behaviors across cultures. We describe the methods used in appropriate translation processes and pilot-testing for health behavior assessment tools. We also discuss ways to limit literacy demands and incorporate qualitative interviews.
Keywords: Cross-cultural comparison, health behaviors, outcomes assessments, evaluation methodology