The Role of Interculturality in Overcoming Health Inequity and Cancer Care: A Narrative Review

El papel de la interculturalidad en la superación de la inequidad en salud y la atención del cáncer: una revisión narrativa

Introduction: Traditional medicine plays a vital role in the cultural identity and health of Indigenous communities, offering a holistic approach that connects body, mind, spirit, and environment. However, its integration with Western medicine faces challenges due to monocultural approaches and limited recognition of Indigenous perspectives. Objectives: To analyze how traditional and Western medical practices intersect in cancer management, focusing on their integration and healthcare professionals’ perceptions. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using systematic searches in Redalyc, Google Scholar, and PubMed, with terms related to cultural competence, health inequities, Indigenous peoples, and cancer. Forty-one relevant studies were selected and analyzed. Results: Indigenous communities face systemic geographic, cultural, and structural barriers to accessing healthcare. Integrating traditional practices into oncology care has shown benefits, including improved quality of life and patient satisfaction. However, healthcare professionals lack cultural competence, highlighting the need for training and policy reforms to address skepticism and resource limitations. Conclusions: An intercultural health model is essential to reduce inequities and foster collaboration between medical systems. Recommendations include training healthcare professionals, implementing inclusive policies, and ensuring active participation of Indigenous communities to enhance health outcomes.