Aboriginal Health Issue of Australia - Term Paper Example

Title: ABORIGINAL HEALTH ISSUE CASE STUDY (Student Name) (Student Code) (Course Code) (Tutor’s name) (Institution) 20/05/2008 Aboriginal people were the original inhabitants of Australia before British Captain Cook and his crew arrived. These people are among the original descendants of the first known human inhabitants of the Australia and the nearby islands. Aboriginal people and the other Indigenous Australians, the Torres Strait Islanders, make approximately 2.4% of Australia's population. The Aboriginal people are located at the mainland of Australia in the regions Tasmania and adjacent islands. The Indigenous people of Australia usually experience poorer health compared to the rest of population (Anne 2005, p. 124 - 164). This inequality mainly is due to the disadvantage and higher psychosocial risk factors which leads to a wide range of health problems. These health inequalities arise and accumulate from a lifetime of disadvantage related to inadequate access to appropriate social, legal and economic support and the physical infrastructure. However, these inequalities vary in their effect through various NHPA diseases and conditions. Diabetes, as an example, is a disproportionately and a major cause of morality and morbidity in Aboriginal Australians which translates to future mothers. The definition of aboriginal health is diverse and includes the cultural security, good environment, poverty free (socio-economic) and the physical wellbeing (Gordon 2003, p. 43 - 79). The cultural security usually deals with the commitment that the construct and provision of services offered by the health system will not compromise the legitimate cultural rights, views, values and expectations, appreciation and response to the impact of cultural diversity on the utilization and provision of effective clinical care, public health and health systems administration (Michael 2000, p. 54 – 112). During the period of nineteenth century, the Western health model was developed; this was to the response to the medical knowledge of that period. The main basis of this idea was due to the idea that human was part of the nature and so its medical needs could be studied in the same way as that of nature. This kind of health model was successful during the identification of main causes of illness and death because of frequent accidents and infections at that time. This model also proved that man feels sick from things that invaded his body or due to accidental damage. There is no such thing as in between when someone is ill, it is either healthy or sick. (Gary 1996, p. 10 – 14) As note by Norman (1999, p. 231 - 373) during the early, mid and adulthood period the health and sickness issues were a consequence of a collection or accumulated exposure to dangerous and risky factors through one life's. This usually starts during pregnancy and fetus development, which then continues in infancy, childhood and adolescence. The approach that view Aboriginal health, which mostly focuses and concentrates on adult morbidity and preventions normally starts too late and misses opportunities to regulate the health issue early enough. Then we come to the question and ask what can be done for the Aboriginal to facilitate early intervention and the associated impacts? For this to happen Aboriginal women and women who are pregnant have to be healthy both emotionally and physically. Good access, attendance and provision of primary health care (prenatal) shows a huge difference to health of women who are at the age of child bearing and during the pregnancy and after the pregnancy; as well as the foetus during growth and development and the infant and young child (Ernest 1998, p. 68 - 96). Through research, it has been shown that, Aboriginal babies are twice likely to have low birth weight compared to the Non-Aboriginal. This then has a long term impact which is associated to the babies and also increases the risk of major sickness and illness and which may lead to early death. In the context of Australia, it has being shown that babies of Aboriginal parents are born with low birth weight have a greater risk during their first year (Norman 1999, p. 231 – 373). According to the Secretariat for National and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) and also the Center for Community Child Health CCCH, in its writings, says “Australian Indigenous children are among the most disadvantaged groups of children in our country if not the most disadvantaged.” Evidence suggests and shows that the early years of development and growth from conception to age six, and especially the first three years, sets the base for competence and coping skills that will affect learning, behavior and health throughout life of the associated babies (Anne-Katrin 2005, p. 86 – 190). A good kind of nutrition is usually necessary for the growth, physical and mental health. The normal growth during infancy and early childhood is usually vitally important for good health and growth into adulthood. A poor kind of nutrition can likely increase the risk of a number of diseases, which include cardiovascular disease, gall bladder disease, diabetes, some kinds of cancers, anemia, obesity, dental caries and renal disease (Michael 2000, p. 54 - 112). Impact of increase of non communicable and chronic disorders and the reasons that are associated with the Aboriginal health continues to rise. This even takes place after an increase in service provision, research, strategic planning and policy development. This is to the due fact that people who are dealing with these problems are the wrong people and people who are maternal oriented should be given a chance. To achieve these Aboriginal health should change from the decolonizing kind to that which suites the Aboriginals. This is through changing from the current western kind which is dominant which manages Aboriginal health in linear spectrum of disease and illness (Anne 2005, p. 124 - 164). These people (Aboriginal) view their health differently and the contents for their kind of health issues are also diverse and require a holistic and informed response. Complications in Australia’s Indigenous population are extremely complex and its study and research should be worked on and expanded where possible. This is to the idea that they have pre-historical, historical, cultural, political dimensions and socioeconomic. Before the introduction of colonization the Aboriginal people were hunters and gatherers who had lived in isolation for thousand of years. Their traditional kind of diet and way of life they gathered, trapped and hunted for indigenous foods that were usually low in their dietary energy which include less salt, sugar, fat and high fibre and carbohydrates that were complex. To obtain this kind of food they used a lot of physical energy and also they used this energy to obtain sufficient water to survive (Anne-Katrin 2005, p. 86 - 190). The Europeans described the Aboriginals as slimly built sinewy featherweights when they first saw them. At this time they were not susceptible to chronic degenerative diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. After the Europeans stayed, diseases that were termed as lifestyle started developing first during the first decades. This then was associated with rapid change to Westernized diets and lifestyles which directly affected the fetus and young children. Also, the stay of Europeans led to the decline in physical activity through the restrictions on ways of gathering for water and food. The risky behaviors such as the sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition accompanied by excessive alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking, are the main implementation and contributors to such adverse outcomes and are prevalent among the Indigenous Australians. Also, the grouping of such risky behaviors are common, the effects of many adverse and health related behaviors are addictive and are also rising sharply. The intake of large amount of alcohol has important nutritional outcomes, as well as social impacts on individuals, families and communities. This is also linked to high prevalence in hypertension when the parents take this kind of lifestyles during the suckling (Anne-Katrin 2005, p. 86 – 190). Many other factors contribute to the complexities and the dynamics of the upsurge in chronic disease in Aboriginal people. The social factors as poverty, inferior housing, severe overcrowding, poor standards of domestic and community hygiene, high un employment rate, educational disadvantage, racial discrimination, limited access to nutritious and affordable foods, and the poor understanding of health. This increase the changes of chronic disease in Aboriginal people which then affects both the parent and the pregnancy. The chronic disorders are insidious in onset accompanied with long silent asymptomatic periods which precedes clinical diagnosis. The limited access to good health facilities and disease prevention and means for health promotion is among many factors that contribute to child development. If these factors are corrected then the health inequalities that are frequent to indigenous people are then controlled (Ernest 1998, p. 68 – 96). In conclusion, Ernest (1998, p. 68 - 96) observes that the purpose of antenatal visits is to monitor the health of both the mother and baby, provide advice to promote the health of both the mother and baby, to identify antenatal complications, and to provide appropriate intervention at the earliest time. The NSW Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Strategy have been implemented to improve access to culturally appropriate maternity services for Aboriginal mothers. In those areas of NSW where the Strategy has been implemented, 78% of Aboriginal women attended their first antenatal visit before 20 weeks. These then directly affects and promises a bright future for the Aboriginal communities. The leaving standards and day to day lifestyle of the Aboriginal is seen as directly proportional to the future development to the communities. References Anne, E. (2005). Bridging Cultures in Aboriginal Health, ch. 5, p. 124 – 164, (Elsevier, Australia) Anne-Katrin, E. (2005). Binan Goonj: Bridging Cultures in Aboriginal Health, ch. 11, p. 86 – 190 (Elsevier, Australia) Ernest, H. (1998). Aboriginal Health and History: Power and Prejudice in Remote Australia, ch. 4, pp. 68 – 96 (London, Cambridge University Press) Gary, R. (1996). Aboriginal Health: Social and Cultural Transitions, ch. 1, pp. 10 – 14 (New York, NTU Press) Gordon, B. (2003).Counting, Health and Identity: A History of Aboriginal Health and Demography, ch. 2, pp. 43 – 79 (New York, Prentice Hall) Norman, F. (1999).Aboriginal Health: The Ethical Challenges, ch. 12, pp. 231 - 373 (Caroline Chisholm Center for Health Ethics, Australia) Michael, K. (2000). Ethical Challenges that are faced by the Aboriginal Population in Australia, ch. 3, pp. 54 – 112 (New York: Oxford University Press) Read More