Cultural aspects of pain in childbearing women.

As the American population increases in ethnic diversity, nurses must prepare to care for women from various cultures. The American Nurses Association has stated that a knowledge of cultural diversity is vital at all levels of nursing. Culture is known to affect the patient's perception of pain and the nurse's inference of pain in the patient. Pain is expected in childbirth, and nurses should learn how cultures influences individual women in their expression of pain. Because each women is unique, nurses must combine information about culture with clinical assessment of the patient to provide culturally sensitive care.