Aboriginal Health as a Major Source of Concern for Government and Healthcare Professionals - Essay Example

Aboriginal Health Name Institution Unit Instructor Date Aboriginal health Aboriginal health is a major source of concern for government and healthcare professionals. This group of people faces unique challenges in their pursuit of a better life in a developed country like Australia. Despite the country moving forward development-wise, this particular group has been left behind in various ways. In matters health, it is the work of healthcare professionals to ensure that this group of people overcomes the challenges they face to access better health. This unit has brought me face to face with the healthcare needs for the Aboriginal people. The need for psychological healthcare also comes out strongly especially from this particular group which has faced historical injustices from past governments and European settlers. In this paper, I briefly discuss some of the things that I have learnt in the unit in class and through several interview recordings and case studies of Aboriginal people’s plight in health matters as presented in class. Challenges faced by Aboriginal people- Russell Nelly The interview of Nelly Russell begins with him introducing himself. From the very word go, I struggled to hear him well. He sounded drunk or somehow very ill or very old. As the interview progresses, I learnt that he has stroke which has affected his speech which made me feel so embarrassed for having even imagined that he was drunk. What captures my attention most is the fact that he was born under a tree and his mother walked for three days to reach a health facility. After all that, the child was taken away and placed in a mission center for schooling. It is the mission that what forms the basis of his life predicament and of his most painful memory as an adult. In the mission, he was told that his family abandoned. This set him up for a bad childhood experience which affected his future. Experts indicate that bad childhood experiences can affect individuals emotionally and psychologically. Furthermore, individuals learn about their culture especially from their parents at early age through childhood practices (Tutauha, 2011) Russell in this case was uprooted from his cultural knowledge and even felt abandoned. He did not in fact understand parental love and thus might have problems in future in giving the same kind of parental love. The kind of lifestyle that he experienced and diet was very harsh. Russell indicates that they used to wake up extremely early at 4 am and the level of discipline at the mission was very strict. For this reason, Russell bottled up his resentment. He did not know how to relate with people in authority when he ventured in life outside the mission. He felt a lot vengeance and frustrated and did not want to cope with authority. As a result, resulted to alcoholism and drug use. He narrates that he at one time was admitted in hospital in Sydney for a week as a result to drug use. This is an indication that there were no social support systems to cater for such people facing emotional difficulties. If there was a working social health support system at the time, Russell might not have resulted to drug use and alcoholism because a counselor or therapist would have helped to ease the frustrations that he felt and his resentment towards authority that emanated from his childhood at the mission. Russell says that he has experienced a lot of racism in his life. He says that for close to 16 years, he had to persevere with some Christians in mission who insisted that Jesus did not recognize the Aboriginals/blacks and that they did not have any brains. Such information stuck with him for the rest of his life. He also says that police do not listen to Aboriginal people. In fact, he was once placed in a cell with a champion boxer where both were instructed to fight with the winner walking free. He was beaten so bad that he was admitted to hospital. This kind of discrimination impacts the person to fear seeking healthcare services in a system dominated by white people. This could explain in part why Russell did not seek psychological help from the healthcare system to deal with his addictions and conquer his childhood fears. This informs me that I should be extra careful in dealing with Aboriginal patients. Any racially inflammatory language should be avoided to avert eliciting unwanted reactions. Furthermore, Russell indicates that some Aboriginal people from the generation that was uprooted from their families do not have people to take care of them. When such persons are admitted in health institutions, I am convinced that extra care should be given to them as they have no people to look after them. As a health practitioner, I should strive to provide emotional and psychological support. Russell decided to change his life after three doctors made a prognosis that made him realize that something was very wrong and he needed to change. At this time, he says he had added weight. Obesity increases the risk of diabetes (Blanchard, 2012). This chronic disease was previously through to affect the elderly only but its incidence has increased. High risk behaviors such as alcoholism, smoking and obesity increase the risk of developing diabetes. Obesity, alcoholism and smoking are very common among Aboriginal people thereby increasing their risk to diabetes and even the risk of developing complications if left untreated. Due to poor access to healthcare services, screening rates among Aboriginals are relatively low. Most people tend to rely on traditional medicine whose scientific efficacy is not proven (Kelly, et al. 2009). Some of the risks of diabetes include stroke, kidney failure, stroke, blindness, and even lower limb amputations. As for Russell, he suffers from diabetes and stroke as he explains that one side of his body is “just there.” For this reason, there is need to increase diabetes education among the Aboriginal people as a high risk group. Screening should also be encouraged to facilitate early detection and treatment of preventable illnesses such as diabetes. The Aboriginal people should be empowered to take control of their destiny in terms of health and social needs. To me, empowerment means entrusting the people with power and resources to make their own decisions and chart their own destiny. From the case, Russell is an empowered Aboriginal. He recognizes and understands the ills that affect the Aboriginal society and has plans to address these ills. He understands risks of certain behaviors in his health although he obtained such information when it was too late. This does not compare well with the case of non-Aboriginals who received healthcare information from multiple sources from an early. Young children have access to psychotherapy services which assist them in dealing with pressure such as peer pressure and temptations in engaging in delinquent behaviors such as drug use and alcoholism. The plight of Russell reflects the situation faced by the Aboriginal community in general. Many Aboriginals experienced painful childhoods whose memories affect them all their lives. As a psychotherapist, I would assist Russell and other people like him to deal with their painful childhood memories in order to live a better life. Majority of these people reside in far flung rural areas where it is difficult to offer government services. This makes them very vulnerable to opportunistic diseases and other lifestyle diseases that require regular screening and testing. For instance, statistics on alcoholism in Australia paints a very grim picture about Aboriginals. Although the community is considered a high risk group in diabetes, screening rates are still relatively low. This increases their risk of developing complications such as blindness, stroke, kidney failure and lower limb amputations. Furthermore, cultural explanations for some illnesses such as mental problems need to be addressed in a culturally sensitive way. Nelly’s case is not unique. There are hundreds of other Aboriginals who deal with alcoholism. In his current as he is a recovering alcoholic, is diabetic and developed stroke. He needs proper medication to help him deal with the stroke and diabetes and proper information on diet to keep his weight at acceptable levels. Most importantly, he is need of counseling. He appears very bitter with his childhood. He blames his current problems on the government system. He feels lost in so many ways. He is trying to find his amongst his people and thus he should be empowered to do fulfill his wishes in educating fellow Aboriginals who might be facing similar problems. Healthcare for Aboriginal people- case study The Aboriginal family structure is a very strong component of their culture. Non-Aboriginal persons like me have different family structures nurtured by modern capitalism where individualism is valued. I have interacted and observed several Aboriginal families and have admired their sense of family and commitment to the extended family which is very different even from my own experience my cousins, aunts and uncles play a very minimal role in my life. In the case study case, the doctor who is assigned the task of handling the Aboriginal patient with her family does not have the slightest clue of the Aboriginal family structure as engrained in their culture. We see a young mother whose daughter is being readied for a surgical operation hence the need to sign a consent form. From a non-Aboriginal cultural point of view, the child’s parents are responsible for making decision for the kid such as signing the consent form. For this reason, the doctor approaches the mother. The reaction of the child’s mother is ‘awkward’ in the doctor’s eyes. From the Aboriginal cultural perspective, the doctor’s approach of the child’s mother instead of the grandmother is ‘awkward’ and culturally wrong. This clearly captures the importance of health professionals being aware of cultural needs of Aboriginals. Professionals like me have also to be self-ware and acknowledge the differences between one’s own culture and that of the Aboriginals or any culture for that matter. Among Aboriginals, children are a responsibility of the entire community. Senior family members are deemed wiser and are the decision makers. In the case, the doctor should have explained and sought consent from the child’s grandmother in line with Aboriginal culture. Any provision of healthcare services to Aboriginals must be made with the individuals, families and community in mind. Any action towards an individual affects the whole community and family and hence it must be vetoed by the family. Communication with Aboriginal people-Michael Wright The story of Michael Wright is interesting and very informative from the word go. As a well-educated and experienced Aboriginal researcher, he presents important information on how research involving Aboriginals should progress. He advises researchers studying Aboriginals in the rural areas should use an Aboriginal person as an intermediary to help them relate and observe cultural considerations of the people so as to receive cooperation. Further research on this reveals that Aboriginal people are apprehensive and somehow mistrust non Aboriginal people especially based from their history of European occupation. For this reason, researchers must endear themselves to the communities by being genuine and truthful (Pickett et al). Such is best communicated through intermediaries. This can also be replicated in the healthcare setting. Any community education programs for instance are best conducted by Aboriginal healthcare professionals in a community based approach. Non-Aboriginal individuals must acknowledge the uniqueness of Aboriginal people. Any kind of healthcare services to the non-Aboriginal people is best provided by Aboriginal people who have received western education or through their assistance. In the past, I thought this was due to language barriers, but it is not the case. Relating with Aboriginals is not just a language matter. Wright notes that majority of Aboriginal people rarely understand the relevance of research in their day to day lives. Therefore, to receive cooperation, researchers must engage and involve communities to make them understand the relevance of research and how it can impact their lives. This takes long and involves building relationship not with individuals but the families and the community on the overall. For healthcare professionals and upcoming ones like me, we have to keep in mind the sensitivity of dealing with Aboriginal people. We must be sensitive to their needs to attain the goals in healthcare delivery. Protocols set by government in dealing with Aboriginal people must be followed. This fosters understanding and also ensures that the Aboriginal people access better services. From this case, I have learnt that I cannot just approach Aboriginal patients like any other patient it is important to involve a third party and seek to create a relationship with them and gain their trust. The hierarchy of communication as per the community is also important and must be observed (Pickett et al, 2000). Wright also informs that the Aboriginal people are also very interested in people that they interact with. He says that regardless of the person who has introduced a researcher or a non-Aboriginal person to the community, they are interested in his intentions and his family life and background. Therefore, I know that as a healthcare person who will be dealing with Aboriginal people, I have to live my life in an open and honest way and even be ready to share my personal and family history with such people just to build rapport. Therefore, this means that all healthcare professionals must be ready to relate on a personal level with their Aboriginal patients besides the professional level. Summary The Government and non-Aboriginal Australians must acknowledge their contributions towards the current plight of Aboriginal people. From the very beginning, the European attitude and treatment of the culture-rich Aboriginals set them up for a very unfortunate path. They have suffered for years in very many ways. It is time that the country actually ‘closes the gap’ in health without further disregard for their culture. There also exists a gap in how as a people we understand the Aboriginal people. Healthcare professionals and more psychotherapists must be trained to be sensitive in dealing with Aboriginal patients and health researchers must also carry out intensive studies to understand the health challenges and risks facing these people. This will help Australia as a country heal and reduce the cultural tension that exists between the two groups with the Aboriginals being largely misunderstood. As a health professional, I acknowledge that I have to employ unique ways to communicate effectively with these people and even deliver services effectively. This unit has been a revelation as a budding professional in terms of relating with Aboriginal people. I now know that there is more to dealing with Aboriginals than just trying to learn some of the Aboriginal dialects. References Australian law reform commission (n.d.). Aboriginal Societies: The Experience of Contact Changing Policies Towards Aboriginal People. Retrieved from http://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/3.%20Aboriginal%20Societies%3A%20The%20Experience%20of%20Contact/changing-policies-towards-Aboriginal Blanchard, K. (2012). The Plight of Australia’s Indigenous People. Retrieved from http://www.travelgogirl.com/blog/2012/09/23/the-plight-of-australias-indigenous-people/ Culturally Teaching. (n.d.). Individualism and Collectivism . Retrieved from Culturally Teaching: http://culturallyteaching.com/2009/04/15/individualism-and-collectivism-personal-examples/ Guilfoyle, A. (2008). Embedding Indigenous Content into Qualitative Research in Psychology in Reflective Case Studies: A Case for Social Change. http://ro.ecu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1018&context=ceducom Kelly, K., Dudgeon, P., Gee, G., & Glaskin, B. (2009). Living on the Edge. Casuarina: Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association and Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health. Pickett, H, Dudgeon, P. & Garvey, D. (2000). Working with Aboriginal Australians. A handbook for Aboriginal people. Brisbane: Gunada Press. Sansbury, T. (1999). Indigenous community expectations of best practice (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/conferences/indigenous/sansbury.pdf Taylor, K., & Guerin, P. (2010). Health Care and Indigenous Australians: Cultural Safety in Practice. South Yarra, Vic: Palgrave Macmillan. Thomson, N., & Brooks, J. (2003). The Health of Indigenous Australians. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Total Human Resource. (n.d.). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Perth. Retrieved from http://www.tr7.com.au/pdfs/indigenous/ATSI_Facts_Sheet.pdf Tutauha, W. (2011) Global Indigenous Experience. Vodcast: Indigenous Cultures and Health 130 Unit. Bentley, Perth: Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University Webb, M. (2011). The Importance of Identity Vodcast: Indigenous Cultures and Health 130 Unit. Bentley, Perth: Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University Read More