Gaps In Indigenous Not Closing Disadvantage -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Gaps In Indigenous Not Closing Disadvantage? Answer: Introducation According to the statement by the NACHHO or National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health, the term health can be defined as the amalgamation of physical, emotional, social and cultural wellbeing, and each and every individual belonging to the societal community has equal right to achieving the aforementioned state of absolute health (Naccho.org. 2017). The statement of NACHHO further illustrates towards the health care services provided to the public, it dictates the health care services to be provide in a manner that will help each and every individual in need for health care services, are provided with the ability and availability to achieve their full potential as healthy human beings, facilitating the overall well being for the community (Naccho.org. 2017). However I would like to mention that the health care delivery scenario differs magnanimously. The aboriginals have always received differential behaviour from the rest of the mainstream society, and the disparity in the behaviour extends to the health care experience they achieve as well. In most cases, the aboriginals do not get the opportunity to access the health care services that are otherwise easily accessed by the non-natives residing in Australia (Mitrou et al. 2014). This assignment will reflect upon the health care disparities that the aboriginal Australians are subjected to and device a health promotional and preventative strategy that can help in reducing the disparities and achieve what the NAIHO statement aspires for. According to the statement of department of aboriginal affairs, the aboriginals can be described as the any descendant of the aboriginal or Torres State Island community bearing a biological connection with the ancient indigenous or native community of the Australia, and this somewhat racial discrimination has been the sole source for the inequality that this community has faced (Barclay et al. 2014). Considering the health care sector, there are conspicuous gaps in the health care that the aboriginal community receives, and these gaps are represented in life expectancy, infant mortality rates, poor health outcomes along with very poor or considerably non-existent health literacy in the aboriginals. The difference in the life expectancy of the average men and women in the aboriginal communities and non-aboriginal communities is a gap or 10 years. The infant mortality rates in aboriginal communities are 6.2% while the rate in the non-indigenous communities is 3.7%, which is almost hal f of the rate that aboriginal community has (Sherwood 2013). The potential preventable death rate is also 5 times more than what the non-native communities have, and the aboriginal were also 4 times more likely to be hospitalized for chronic conditions when compared to the non-native Australians and the rate of hospitalization has increased 50 times for the aboriginal communities in the last five years (Artuso et al. 2013). Hence it can be stated that there is a significant gap in the health care delivery that the aboriginals receive, and according to the statement released by Australian government, these gaps are, shorter life expectancy, high mortality rates, low health outcomes, and nonexistent health literacy (Oliver 2013). Now, exploring the contributing factors to these gaps or disparities in the health care sector for aboriginals, there are a number of different external and internal factors associated with this situation. First and foremost, one of the major facilitators can be the conservative notion in the society for the aboriginals (Mitrou et al. 2014). Another very important aspect in the health care disadvantage that the aboriginals face is the lack of effective interpersonal communication, according to most of the authors, one of the most important reasons behind the disparities in the aboriginal heath is the fact that there is a significant communication gap between the health care provider and the patients and their families. The dialect is one influential factor in this scenario (Kelaher et al. 2014). In most cases, either the health care providers are unable to interpret the preferences or grievances shared by the patients; or on the other hand, the aboriginal patients and their families are often unable to interpret the instructions of the health care providers. And lastly, the lack of cultural competency in the care provided and the lack of health literacy in the aboriginals contribute to their compromised health status as well (Guy et al. 2012). Now, according to the recent concept of equity in health care, each and every one has a elemental right for optimal health care services. The disparities that dominate the health care delivery for the Australian aboriginals can only be overcome with a robust and effective health strategy (Mitrou et al. 2014). However, in my opinion, the strategy must address each and every determinants of the aboriginal health status and contribute towards the goal of making health care services easy, accessible and affordable for the aboriginals (Britt et al. 2013). The first and foremost element in the strategy must incorporate the concept for cultural competency, from my own personal experience, I can add that the major reason behind the aboriginals not opting for health care services is due to the fear they have for their cultural safety and dignity. It has to be understood that the aboriginals have deep rooted traditional values and beliefs regarding healing and health, and the modern health acr e techniques often clash with their traditional healing principles. Hence, the health strategy must incorporate the cultural competency in designing care for the aboriginals, involving a cultural safety liaison officer and language expert will be extremely helpful in overcoming the communication gap (Bourke et al. 2012). The second component of the strategy must take into consideration the absolute lack of health education in the aboriginals. It has to be understood in this context that there are a number of different government policies in place that provides primary health care services, immunization and maternity help to the aboriginal women and children without a cost, although most of the aboriginals have no knowledge of these benefits they are endowed. Hence in my opinion, the best strategy to be implemented in order to improve the health of the aboriginals is a promotional or awareness strategy that will help the aboriginal individuals be aware of the health statistics and benefits that the aboriginals are allowed by the government (Artuso et al. 2013). In my opinion, the lack of health literacy in the aboriginals is mostly due to the compromised education patterns observed in the aboriginals; hence the promotional strategies should involve informative seminars, workshops and campaigns involvi ng all the different age groups of aboriginal communities (AIHW 2017). However care should be taken that the information about preventative health care and healthy living is conveyed to the aborigines in a simple pattern that will be easy for the aboriginals to understand. The promotional component must also incorporate details like preventative health and hygiene, vaccination and immunization, primary health priorities and neonatal care. Lastly, the strategy will also need to integrate the aspect of the discrimination in the health care staff that is reflected onto the experience that the aboriginals receive. Hence it is imperative for change to be incorporated into the outlook of the health care providers to the indigenous communities (Artuso et al. 2013). This goal of the strategy can be achieved through extensive motivational training and leadership development. On a concluding note, it can be stated that the there are a myriad of health care disparities for the residents of aboriginal and Torres state Island, and these disparities are deep rooted and profoundly contribute to deteriorating health outcome for the aboriginals. However, with adequate strategic planning and actions the disparities can be reduced and if all the associated stakeholders contribute efforts the goal of NACHHO statement to provide adequate health and living standards to the aboriginals can be achieved. References: Abs.gov.au. (2017). Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Government. [online] Available at: https://www.abs.gov.au [Accessed 11 Oct. 2017]. www.abs.gov.au Artuso, S., Cargo, M., Brown, A. and Daniel, M., 2013. Factors influencing health care utilisation among Aboriginal cardiac patients in central Australia: a qualitative study.BMC Health Services Research,13(1), p.83. https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6963-13-83 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2017). Home. [online] Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au [Accessed 11 Oct. 2017]. https://www.aihw.gov.au Barclay, L., Kruske, S., Bar-Zeev, S., Steenkamp, M., Josif, C., Narjic, C.W., Wardaguga, M., Belton, S., Gao, Y., Dunbar, T. and Kildea, S., 2014. Improving Aboriginal maternal and infant health services in the Top Endof Australia; synthesis of the findings of a health services research program aimed at engaging stakeholders, developing research capacity and embedding change.BMC health services research,14(1), p.241. Bourke, L., Humphreys, J.S., Wakerman, J. and Taylor, J., 2012. Understanding rural and remote health: a framework for analysis in Australia.Health Place,18(3), pp.496-503. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22418016 Britt, H., Miller, G.C., Henderson, J., Bayram, C., Valenti, L., Harrison, C., Charles, J., Pan, Y., Zhang, C., Pollack, A.J. and O'Halloran, J., 2013.General Practice Activity in Australia 2012-13: BEACH: Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health(No. 33). Sydney University Press. link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-014-0186-5 Guy, R., Ward, J.S., Smith, K.S., Su, J.Y., Huang, R.L., Tangey, A., Skov, S., Rumbold, A., Silver, B., Donovan, B. and Kaldor, J.M., 2012. The impact of sexually transmissible infection programs in remote Aboriginal communities in Australia: a systematic review.Sexual health,9(3), pp.205-212. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22697136 Kelaher, M., Sabanovic, H., La Brooy, C., Lock, M., Lusher, D. and Brown, L., 2014. Does more equitable governance lead to more equitable health care? A case study based on the implementation of health reform in Aboriginal health Australia.Social Science Medicine,123, pp.278-286. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953614004614 Mitrou, F., Cooke, M., Lawrence, D., Povah, D., Mobilia, E., Guimond, E. and Zubrick, S.R., 2014. Gaps in Indigenous disadvantage not closing: a census cohort study of social determinants of health in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand from 19812006.BMC Public Health,14(1), p.201. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24568143 Naccho.org. (2017). NACCHO. [online] Available at: https://www.naccho.org [Accessed 9 Oct. 2017]. www.naccho.org Oliver, S.J., 2013. The role of traditional medicine practice in primary health care within Aboriginal Australia: a review of the literature.Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine,9(1), p.46. https://ethnobiomed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1746-4269-9-4 Sherwood, J., 2013. ColonisationIts bad for your health: The context of Aboriginal health.Contemporary nurse,46(1), pp.28-40. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24716759 References: