Journal articles on the topic 'Aboriginal Australians – Health and hygiene'
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Barnes, Rosanne, Asha C. Bowen, Roz Walker, Steven Y. C. Tong, Jodie McVernon, Patricia T. Campbell, Parveen Fathima, et al. "454. Perinatal Risk Factors Associated with Skin Infection Hospitalisation in Western Australian Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Children." Open Forum Infectious Diseases 6, Supplement_2 (October 2019): S223. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofz360.527.
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Abstract Background Hospitalisation with skin infection in Western Australian (WA) Aboriginal children is common, with the highest rates in infants and children from remote WA. We aimed to quantify infant, maternal, and sociodemographic risk factors for skin infection hospitalization in WA children, focusing on Aboriginal children aged <17 years. Methods We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study with linked perinatal and hospitalization data on WA-born children (1996–2012), of whom 31,348 (6.7%) were Aboriginal. We used Cox regression to calculate adjusted hazard ratios and associated population attributable fractions (PAFs) for perinatal factors attributed to the first hospitalization with skin infection. To identify specific risk factors for early-onset infection, we further restricted the cohort to infants aged <1 year. Results Overall, 5,439 (17.4%) Aboriginal and 6,750 (1.5%) non-Aboriginal children were hospitalized at least once with a skin infection. Aboriginal infants aged <1 year had the highest skin infection hospitalization rate (63.2/1,000 child-years). The strongest risk factors in Aboriginal children aged <17 years were socio-economic disadvantage, very remote location at birth and multi-parity (≥3 previous pregnancies) accounting for 24%, 23% and 15% of skin infection hospitalizations, respectively. Other risk factors included maternal age <20 years, maternal smoking during pregnancy and low birthweight. Conclusion We have quantified the relative influence of perinatal risk factors associated with skin infection hospitalizations in WA children, providing measures indicating which factors have the potential to reduce the most hospitalizations. Our evidence supports existing calls for substantial government investment in addressing underlying social and environmental barriers to healthy skin in WA Aboriginal children but also identifies potential areas to target health promotion messaging at individuals/families on maternal smoking during pregnancy and skin hygiene for families. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.
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Laugharne, Jonathan. "Poverty and mental health in Aboriginal Australia." Psychiatric Bulletin 23, no. 6 (June 1999): 364–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/pb.23.6.364.
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When the Australian Governor General, Sir William Deane, referred in a speech in 1996 to the “appalling problems relating to Aboriginal health” he was not exaggerating. The Australia Bureau of Statistics report on The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (McLennan & Madden, 1997) outlines the following statistics. The life expectancy for Aboriginal Australians is 15 to 20 years lower than for non-Aboriginal Australians, and is lower than for most countries of the world with the exception of central Africa and India. Aboriginal babies are two to three times more likely to be of lower birth weight and two to four times more likely to die at birth than non-Aboriginal babies. Hospitalisation rates are two to three times higher for Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal Australians. Death rates from infectious diseases are 15 times higher among Aboriginal Australians than non-Aboriginal Australians. Rates for heart disease, diabetes, injury and respiratory diseases are also all higher among Aboriginals – and so the list goes on. It is fair to say that Aboriginal people have higher rates for almost every type of illness for which statistics are currently recorded.
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Henderson, Scott, and GA Broe. "Dementia in Aboriginal Australians." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 44, no. 10 (October 2010): 869–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/00048674.2010.514858.
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Howe, P. W., J. R. Condon, and C. S. Goodchild. "Anaesthesia for Aboriginal Australians." Anaesthesia and Intensive Care 26, no. 1 (February 1998): 86–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0310057x9802600113.
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This prospective study was designed to describe problems that arise when Aboriginal people undergo anaesthesia, in order to develop guidelines for anaesthetists who are not accustomed to treating Aboriginal people. Data were collected on 1122 consecutive different individuals undergoing anaesthesia at Royal Darwin Hospital, 24.5% of whom described themselves as Aboriginal. Aboriginal patients were in a poorer physiological state than were non-Aboriginal patients. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus, renal disease and rheumatic heart disease reported in Aboriginal patients was very high. Communication difficulties were more commonly reported in Aboriginal patients; the most common difficulty was apparent shyness or fear, rather than actual language difficulty. The results suggest that the treatment of Aboriginal people involves diagnosis and management of diverse pre-operative medical problems, and that better management may be achieved by learning simple cultural strategies and by adding Aboriginal interpreters and health workers to the anaesthetic team.
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Durey, A., D. McAullay, B. Gibson, and L. M. Slack-Smith. "Oral Health in Young Australian Aboriginal Children." JDR Clinical & Translational Research 2, no. 1 (September 27, 2016): 38–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2380084416667244.
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Despite dedicated government funding, Aboriginal Australians, including children, experience more dental disease than other Australians, despite it being seen as mostly preventable. The ongoing legacy of colonization and discrimination against Aboriginal Australians persists, even in health services. Current neoliberal discourse often holds individuals responsible for the state of their health, rather than the structural factors beyond individual control. While presenting a balanced view of Aboriginal health is important and attests to Indigenous peoples’ resilience when faced with persistent adversity, calling to account those structural factors affecting the ability of Aboriginal people to make favorable oral health choices is also important. A decolonizing approach informed by Indigenous methodologies and whiteness studies guides this article to explore the perceptions and experiences of Aboriginal parents ( N = 52) of young children, mainly mothers, in Perth, Western Australia, as they relate to the oral health. Two researchers, 1 Aboriginal and 1 non-Aboriginal, conducted 9 focus group discussions with 51 Aboriginal participants, as well as 1 interview with the remaining individual, and independently analyzed responses to identify themes underpinning barriers and enablers to oral health. These were compared, discussed, and revised under key themes and interpreted for meanings attributed to participants’ perspectives. Findings indicated that oral health is important yet often compromised by structural factors, including policy and organizational practices that adversely preclude participants from making optimal oral health choices: limited education about prevention, prohibitive cost of services, intensive marketing of sugary products, and discrimination from health providers resulting in reluctance to attend services. Current government intentions center on Aboriginal–non-Aboriginal partnerships, access to flexible services, and health care that is free of racism and proactively seeks and welcomes Aboriginal people. The challenge is whether these good intentions are matched by policies and practices that translate into sustained improvements to oral health for Aboriginal Australians. Knowledge Transfer Statement: Slow progress in reducing persistent oral health disparities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians calls for a new approach to this seemingly intractable problem. Findings from our qualitative research identified that structural factors—such as cost of services, little or no education on preventing oral disease, and discrimination by health providers—compromised Aboriginal people’s optimum oral health choices and access to services. The results from this study can be used to recommend changes to policies and practices that promote rather than undermine Aboriginal health and well-being and involve Aboriginal people in decisions about their health care.
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Daws, Karen, Amanda Punch, Michelle Winters, Sonia Posenelli, John Willis, Andrew MacIsaac, Muhammad Aziz Rahman, and Linda Worrall-Carter. "Implementing a working together model for Aboriginal patients with acute coronary syndrome: an Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer and a specialist cardiac nurse working together to improve hospital care." Australian Health Review 38, no. 5 (2014): 552. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah13211.
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Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) contributes to the disparity in life expectancy between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. Improving hospital care for Aboriginal patients has been identified as a means of addressing this disparity. This project developed and implemented a working together model of care, comprising an Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer and a specialist cardiac nurse, providing care coordination specifically directed at improving attendance at cardiac rehabilitation services for Aboriginal Australians in a large metropolitan hospital in Melbourne. A quality improvement framework using a retrospective case notes audit evaluated Aboriginal patients’ admissions to hospital and identified low attendance rates at cardiac rehabilitation services. A working together model of care coordination by an Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer and a specialist cardiac nurse was implemented to improve cardiac rehabilitation attendance in Aboriginal patients admitted with ACS to the cardiac wards of the hospital. A retrospective medical records audit showed that there were 68 Aboriginal patients admitted to the cardiac wards with ACS from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2011. A referral to cardiac rehabilitation was recorded for 42% of these. During the implementation of the model of care, 13 of 15 patients (86%) received a referral to cardiac rehabilitation and eight of the 13 (62%) attended. Implementation of the working together model demonstrated improved referral to and attendance at cardiac rehabilitation services, thereby, has potential to prevent complications and mortality. What is known about the topic? Aboriginal Australians experience disparities in access to recommended care for acute coronary syndrome. This may contribute to the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. What does this paper add? This paper describes a model of care involving an Aboriginal Hospital Liaisons Officer and a specialist cardiac nurse working together to improve hospital care and attendance at cardiac rehabilitation services for Aboriginal Australians with acute coronary syndrome. What are the implications for practitioners? The working together model of care could be implemented across mainstream health services where Aboriginal people attend for specialist care.
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Wettasinghe, Pamela Ming, Wendy Allan, Gail Garvey, Alison Timbery, Sue Hoskins, Madeleine Veinovic, Gail Daylight, et al. "Older Aboriginal Australians’ Health Concerns and Preferences for Healthy Ageing Programs." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 20 (October 10, 2020): 7390. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207390.
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While there is strong evidence of the need for healthy ageing programs for older Aboriginal Australians, few are available. It is important to understand older Aboriginal Australians’ perspectives on healthy ageing in order to co-design culturally-appropriate programs, including views on technology use in this context. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 34 Aboriginal Australians aged 50 years and older from regional and urban communities to explore participants’ health concerns, preferences for healthy ageing programs, and receptiveness to technology. Qualitative data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. This study found that older Aboriginal Australians are concerned about chronic health conditions, social and emotional well-being, and difficulties accessing health services. A range of barriers and enablers to participation in current health programs were identified. From the perspective of older Aboriginal people, a successful healthy ageing program model includes physical and cognitive activities, social interaction, and health education. The program model also provides culturally safe care and transport for access as well as family, community, cultural identity, and empowerment regarding ageing well as central tenets. Technology could also be a viable approach for program delivery. These findings can be applied in the implementation and evaluation of culturally-appropriate, healthy ageing programs with older Aboriginal people.
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GRACEY, MICHAEL. "Substance misuse in Aboriginal Australians." Addiction Biology 3, no. 1 (January 1998): 29–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13556219872326.
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Wan, Xinan, and John D. Mathews. "Primary hepatocellular carcinoma in Aboriginal Australians." Australian Journal of Public Health 18, no. 3 (February 12, 2010): 286–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-6405.1994.tb00246.x.
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Atkinson-Briggs, Sharon, Alicia Jenkins, Christopher Ryan, and Laima Brazionis. "Prevalence of Health-Risk Behaviours Among Indigenous Australians With Diabetes: A Review." Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet 3, no. 4 (2022): 1–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.14221/aihjournal.v3n4.6.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are at high risk of Type 2 diabetes and its complications. Optimal lifestyle choices can improve health outcomes. A thematic review of original research publications related to smoking, nutrition, alcohol intake, physical activity and emotional wellness in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians with diabetes was performed. Overall, 7118 English-language publications were identified by search engines (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Medline-Web of Science, and Google Scholar) with search terms Indigenous Australians OR Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders AND diabetes AND lifestyle OR smoking OR nutrition OR alcohol OR physical activity OR emotional wellbeing and their common synonyms. After review of abstracts and publication reference lists, 36 articles met inclusion criteria and were reviewed. In general, the self-reported health-related behaviours of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian adults with diabetes, which is predominantly Type 2 diabetes, was suboptimal. An important clinical challenge in diabetes care is to sustainably reduce smoking, improve nutrition (including alcohol use), increase physical activity, reduce sedentary time, and improve emotional wellbeing, which should lead to reduced rates of diabetes complications. Regular assessments and multi-stakeholder input, including individuals, communities, clinical, health policy, societal and government inputs and partnerships, are desirable to facilitate closing the gap in health between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australians.
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Emden, Carolyn, Inge Kowanko, Charlotte de Crespigny, and Helen Murray. "Better medication management for Indigenous Australians: findings from the field." Australian Journal of Primary Health 11, no. 1 (2005): 80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py05011.
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This paper reports findings from interviews and focus groups conducted within a multi-dimensional action research project concerning medication management among Indigenous Australians. Participants were Aboriginal people with mental health problems, carers and family members, and health and social service workers from different regions in South Australia. A meta-analysis of findings from each regional project component was conducted, and major themes conceptualised and developed into a coherent summary. The findings revealed problems of a magnitude not previously realised - mental health problems (including alcohol and drug problems) and medication management among Aboriginal people clearly are major issues requiring immediate and sustained attention if the health and welfare of the Australian Indigenous population are to be improved. Findings concerned eight major areas: social and emotional wellbeing issues; stressors on Aboriginal health services and providers; training for the Aboriginal health workforce; mainstream health services for Aboriginal people; trust and confidentiality within Aboriginal health services; English language literacy and numeracy skills of Aboriginal clients; remote living arrangements for many Aboriginal people; problems with alcohol use; and institutionalised and individual racism in the community at large.
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Alexander, Jacob, and Adriana Lattanzio. "Utility of telepsychiatry for Aboriginal Australians." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 43, no. 12 (December 2009): 1185. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/00048670903279911.
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Wan, Xinan, Bart Currie, Nan Miller, and John D. Mathews. "Acute hepatitis B infection in Aboriginal Australians." Australian Journal of Public Health 17, no. 4 (February 12, 2010): 331–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-6405.1993.tb00164.x.
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Gwynne, Kylie, Thomas Jeffries Jr, and Michelle Lincoln. "Improving the efficacy of healthcare services for Aboriginal Australians." Australian Health Review 43, no. 3 (2019): 314. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah17142.
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Objective The aim of the present systematic review was to examine the enablers for effective health service delivery for Aboriginal Australians. Methods This systematic review was undertaken in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Papers were included if they had data related to health services for Australian Aboriginal people and were published between 2000 and 2015. The 21 papers that met the inclusion criteria were assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Seven papers were subsequently excluded due to weak methodological approaches. Results There were two findings in the present study: (1) that Aboriginal people fare worse than non-Aboriginal people when accessing usual healthcare services; and (2) there are five enablers for effective health care services for Australian Aboriginal people: cultural competence, participation rates, organisational, clinical governance and compliance, and availability of services. Conclusions Health services for Australian Aboriginal people must be tailored and implementation of the five enablers is likely to affect the effectiveness of health services for Aboriginal people. The findings of the present study have significant implications in directing the future design, funding, delivery and evaluation of health care services for Aboriginal Australians. What is known about the topic? There is significant evidence about poor health outcomes and the 10-year gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, and limited evidence about improving health service efficacy. What does this paper add? This systematic review found that with usual health care delivery, Aboriginal people experience worse health outcomes. This paper identifies five strategies in the literature that improve the effectiveness of health care services intended for Aboriginal people. What are the implications for practitioners? Aboriginal people fare worse in both experience and outcomes when they access usual care services. Health services intended for Aboriginal people should be tailored using the five enablers to provide timely, culturally safe and high-quality care.
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Briggs, V. L. "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and tobacco." Tobacco Control 12, no. 90002 (September 1, 2003): 5ii—8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/tc.12.suppl_2.ii5.
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Smith, Kate, Leon Flicker, Anna Dwyer, David Atkinson, Osvaldo P. Almeida, Nicola T. Lautenschlager, and Dina LoGiudice. "Factors Associated with Dementia in Aboriginal Australians." Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 44, no. 10 (October 2010): 888–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/00048674.2010.491816.
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Shahid, Shaouli, Lizzie Finn, Dawn Bessarab, and Sandra C. Thompson. "'Nowhere to room … nobody told them': logistical and cultural impediments to Aboriginal peoples' participation in cancer treatment." Australian Health Review 35, no. 2 (2011): 235. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah09835.
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Background. Cancer mortality among Indigenous Australians is higher compared to the non-Indigenous population and attributed to poor access to cancer detection, screening, treatment and support services. A large proportion of Indigenous Australians live in rural and remote areas which makes access to cancer treatment services more challenging. Factors, such as transport, accommodation, poor socio-economic status and cultural appropriateness of services also negatively affect health service access and, in turn, lead to poor cancer outcomes. Design, setting and participants. Qualitative research with 30 in-depth interviews was conducted with Aboriginal people affected by cancer from across WA, using a variety of recruitment approaches. Results. The infrastructure around the whole-of-treatment experience affected the decision-making and experiences of Aboriginal patients, particularly affecting rural residents. Issues raised included transport and accommodation problems, travel and service expenses, displacement from family, concerns about the hospital environment and lack of appropriate support persons. These factors are compounded by a range of disadvantages already experienced by Aboriginal Australians and are vital factors affecting treatment decision-making and access. Conclusion. To improve cancer outcomes for Aboriginal people, logistical, infrastructure and cultural safety issues must be addressed. One way of ensuring this could be by dedicated support to better coordinate cancer diagnostic and treatment services with primary healthcare services. What is known about the topic? Cancer is a major cause of death among Indigenous Australians who are generally diagnosed later with their disease, have poorer continuity of care and lower uptake and completion of cancer treatment. For cancer diagnosis at an equivalent stage of cancer, Aboriginal people have poorer outcomes. What does this paper add? This study documents Aboriginal perspectives on basic infrastructure and logistical problems which impede their accessing hospital-based cancer treatments: transport, accommodation, preparation for the experience of hospital and cancer treatment, service affordability and the certainty of support services. What are the implications for practitioners? There are difficulties for practitioners in addressing the geographic, socioeconomic and cultural differences that Aboriginal people face in accessing cancer treatment. System level changes to ensure cultural safety, social support and better coordination with primary healthcare are essential to improve outcomes of Aboriginal people with cancer.
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Lavrencic, Louise M., Holly A. Mack, Gail Daylight, Sharon Wall, Margaret Anderson, Sue Hoskins, Emily Hindman, Gerald A. Broe, and Kylie Radford. "Staying in touch with the community: understanding self-reported health and research priorities in older Aboriginal Australians." International Psychogeriatrics 32, no. 11 (November 21, 2019): 1303–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1041610219001753.
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ABSTRACTObjectives:Aboriginal Australians experience higher rates of non-communicable chronic disease, injury, dementia, and mortality than non-Aboriginal Australians. Self-reported health is a holistic measure and may fit well with Aboriginal views of health and well-being. This study aimed to identify predictors of self-reported health in older Aboriginal Australians and determine acceptable research methodologies for future aging research.Design:Longitudinal, population-based study.Setting:Five communities across New South Wales, Australia (two urban and three regional sites).Participants:Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (n = 227; 60–88 years, M = 66.06, SD = 5.85; 145 female).Measurements:Participants completed baseline (demographic, medical, cognitive, mental health, and social factors) and follow-up assessments (self-reported health quantified with 5-point scale; sharing thoughts on areas important for future research). Predictors of self-reported health were examined using logistic regression analyses.Results:Self-reported health was associated with sex, activities of daily living, social activity participation, resilience, alcohol use, kidney problems, arthritis, falls, and recent hospitalization. Arthritis, kidney problems, and resilience remained significant in multiple logistic regression models.Conclusions:Perceived resilience and the absence of certain chronic age-related conditions predict older Aboriginal peoples’ self-reported health. Understanding these factors could inform interventions to improve well-being. Findings on acceptable research methodologies suggest that many older Aboriginal people would embrace a range of methodologies within long-standing research partnerships, which is an important consideration for Indigenous population research internationally.
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McEwen, E. C., T. J. Boulton, and R. Smith. "Can the gap in Aboriginal outcomes be explained by DOHaD." Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 10, no. 1 (February 2019): 5–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s2040174418001125.
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AbstractIn Australia, there are two distinct populations, each with vastly disparate health outcomes: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and non-Aboriginal Australians. Aboriginal Australians have significantly higher rates of health and socioeconomic disadvantage, and Aboriginal babies are also more likely to be born low birth weight or growth restricted. The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis advocates that a sub-optimal intrauterine environment, often manifested as diminished foetal growth, during critical periods of foetal development has the potential to alter the risk of non-communicable disease in the offspring. A better understanding of the role of the intrauterine environment and subsequent developmental programming, in response to both transgenerational and immediate stimuli, in Aboriginal Australians remains a relatively unexplored field and may provide insights into the prevailing health disparities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children. This narrative review explores the role of DOHaD in explaining the ongoing disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal People in today’s society through a detailed discussion of the literature on the association between foetal growth, as a proxy for the quality of the intrauterine environment, and outcomes in the offspring including perinatal health, early life development and childhood education. The literature largely supports this hypothesis and this review therefore has potential implications for policy makers not only in Australia but also in other countries that have minority and Indigenous populations who suffer disproportionate disadvantage such as the United States, Canada and New Zealand.
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Roberts‐Thomson, Kaye F., A. John Spencer, and Lisa M. Jamieson. "Oral health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians." Medical Journal of Australia 188, no. 10 (May 2008): 592–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb01798.x.
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Steffens, Margie, Lisa Jamieson, and Kostas Kapellas. "Historical Factors, Discrimination and Oral Health among Aboriginal Australians." Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved 27, no. 1A (2016): 30–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2016.0029.
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Phillips, Christine B., Mahomed S. Patel, and Yolanda Cabaron. "Utilisation of health services by Aboriginal Australians with diabetes." Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice 20, no. 3 (June 1993): 231–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-8227(93)90083-h.
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Carman, William, Marie Ishida, Justin S. Trounson, Stewart W. Mercer, Kanya Anindya, Grace Sum, Gregory Armstrong, Brian Oldenburg, Barbara McPake, and John Tayu Lee. "Epidemiology of physical–mental multimorbidity and its impact among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in Australia: a cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample." BMJ Open 12, no. 10 (October 2022): e054999. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054999.
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ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the differences in multimorbidity between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians, and the effect of multimorbidity on health service use and work productivity.SettingCross-sectional sample of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia wave 17.ParticipantsA nationally representative sample of 16 749 respondents aged 18 years and above.Outcome measuresMultimorbidity prevalence and pattern, self-reported health, health service use and employment productivity by Indigenous status.ResultsAboriginal respondents reported a higher prevalence of multimorbidity (24.2%) compared with non-Indigenous Australians (20.7%), and the prevalence of mental–physical multimorbidity was almost twice as high (16.1% vs 8.1%). Multimorbidity pattern varies significantly among the Aboriginal and non-Indigenous Australians. Multimorbidity was associated with higher health service use (any overnight admission: adjusted OR=1.52, 95% CI=1.46 to 1.58), reduced employment productivity (days of sick leave: coefficient=0.25, 95% CI=0.19 to 0.31) and lower perceived health status (SF6D score: coefficient=−0.04, 95% CI=−0.05 to −0.04). These associations were found to be comparable in both Aboriginal and non-Indigenous populations.ConclusionsMultimorbidity prevalence was significantly greater among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders compared with the non-Indigenous population, especially mental–physical multimorbidity. Strategies are required for better prevention and management of multimorbidity for the aboriginal population to reduce health inequalities in Australia.
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McIntosh, Ian. "Anthropologists and Aboriginal Reconciliation: The Efficacy of Symbolic Reconciliatory Gestures." Practicing Anthropology 23, no. 1 (January 1, 2001): 10–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.17730/praa.23.1.wh27t417114206u1.
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The context of this article is the quest for justice and reparations for Australia's indigenous citizens. In 1991 the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation was established through a unanimous vote in both houses of the Australian federal parliament. Comprised of twenty-five members (twelve of whom are Aboriginal and two Torres Strait Islanders) the Council identified eight key goals for a process centered on fostering the recognition of indigenous cultures by non-Aboriginal Australians, and on promoting fair and proper standards for indigenous Australians in health, housing, employment and education, and other fields.
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Cheng, Yeu-Yao, Jack Nunn, John Skinner, Boe Rambaldini, Tiffany Boughtwood, Tom Calma, Alex Brown, et al. "A Pathway to Precision Medicine for Aboriginal Australians: A Study Protocol." Methods and Protocols 4, no. 2 (June 21, 2021): 42. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/mps4020042.
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(1) Background: Genomic precision medicine (PM) utilises people’s genomic data to inform the delivery of preventive and therapeutic health care. PM has not been well-established for use with people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestry due to the paucity of genomic data from these communities. We report the development of a new protocol using co-design methods to enhance the potential use of PM for Aboriginal Australians. (2) Methods: This iterative qualitative study consists of five main phases. Phase-I will ensure appropriate governance of the project and establishment of a Project Advisory Committee. Following an initial consultation with the Aboriginal community, Phase-II will invite community members to participate in co-design workshops. In Phase-III, the Chief Investigators will participate in co-design workshops and document generated ideas. The notes shall be analysed thematically in Phase-IV with Aboriginal community representatives, and the summary will be disseminated to the communities. In Phase-V, we will evaluate the co-design process and adapt our protocol for the use in partnership with other communities. (3) Discussion: This study protocol represents a crucial first step to ensure that PM research is relevant and acceptable to Aboriginal Australians. Without fair access to PM, the gap in health outcome between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians will continue to widen.
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Rege, Sanil. "State of indigenous mental health in Australia - a colonial legacy?" International Psychiatry 6, no. 4 (October 2009): 98–100. http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/s1749367600000801.
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The Aboriginal culture of Australia is one of the oldest cultures on earth, dating back 50 000 years. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people are the indigenous inhabitants of Australia, constituting 2.4% of the population. The health status of these ‘First Australians’ has been described as a source of national shame, with the life expectancy approximately 17 years lower than that of other Australians (Eades, 2000). This gap in life expectancy is also significantly larger than that of other countries with indigenous populations and a history of colonisation, such as the USA, Canada and New Zealand (Ring & Firman, 1998). This paper offers an overview of the impact of colonisation and its subsequent influence on the social and emotional well-being of ATSI people.
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Berry, Helen L. "Social capital and mental health among Aboriginal Australians, New Australians and Other Australians living in a coastal region." Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health 8, no. 2 (January 2009): 142–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.5172/jamh.8.2.142.
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Leggat, Sandra G. "Improving Aboriginal health." Australian Health Review 32, no. 4 (2008): 587. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah080587.
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In recognition of the recent achievements of the Close the Gap campaign, this issue of AHR contains a set of papers focusing on Aboriginal health. At the national Indigenous Health Equality Summit in Canberra in March 2008, the Close the Gap Statement of Intent was signed. This Statement of Intent requires the government, health and social service agencies and the Aboriginal communities to work together to achieve equality in health status and life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians by the year 2030. (See http:// www.hreoc.gov.au/Social_Justice/health/statement_ intent.html) The first three papers present important policy lessons. Matthews and her colleagues stress the need to strengthen the link between policy formulation and implementation (page 613). Their study found that the lack of progress in improving Aboriginal health may be the result of lack of Indigenous involvement in policy formulation at the senior Australian Government level, limited participation of Indigenous community controlled health organisations in the policy making process and insufficient resources for implementation. Anderson, Anderson and Smylie outline the achievements of the National Indigenous Health Performance Measurement System (page 626), and change management lessons from Aboriginal community controlled health organisations are discussed by Leanne Coombe from the Apunipima Cape York Health Council (page 639). Other papers with a focus on Aboriginal health include a review of emergency department access (page 648), overseas-trained doctors working in rural and remote Aboriginal health settings (page 655) and eye health programs within remote Aboriginal communities (page 664).
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Adams, Mick, Kootsy (Justin) Canuto, Neil Drew, and Jesse John Fleay. "Postcolonial Traumatic Stresses among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians." ab-Original 3, no. 2 (September 1, 2020): 233–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.5325/aboriginal.3.2.233.
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Abstract The mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males in Australia is often misunderstood, mainly because it has been poorly researched. When analyzing the quality of life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males, it is crucial to consider the associated factors that have directly and indirectly contributed to their poor health and wellbeing, that is, the effects of colonization, the interruption of cultural practices, displacement of societies, taking away of traditional homelands and forceful removal of children (assimilation and other policies). The displacement of families and tribal groups from their country broke up family groups and caused conflict between the original inhabitants of the lands and dislocated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tribal groups. These dislocated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were forced to reside on the allocated government institutions where they would be (allegedly) protected. Whilst in the institutions they were made to comply with the authority rules and were forbidden to practice or participate in their traditional rituals or customs or speak their own tribal languages. Additionally, the dispossession from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional lands and the destruction of culture and political, economic, and social structures have caused many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have a pervading sense of hopelessness for the future. The traditional customs and life cycles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males were permanently affected by colonization adversely contributing to mental health problems in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. In this article we aim to provide a better understanding of the processes impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males' social and emotional wellbeing.
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Bourke, Christopher J., Andrew McAuliffe, and Lisa M. Jamieson. "Addressing the oral health workforce needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians." Australian Health Review 45, no. 4 (2021): 407. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah20295.
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Tooth decay and gum disease, the main dental diseases affecting Australians, can cause pain and deformity as well as affecting eating and speech. Dental practitioners are efficient and effective in relieving dental pain, and they can effectively restore oral function. There is good evidence that better health care outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients are associated with care from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals. Unfortunately, the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the dental practitioner workforce is very low. We argue that a strategic approach, along with additional investment, is needed to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people qualified as dental practitioners.
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Kukuruzovic, R. H., A. Haase, K. Dunn, A. Bright, and D. R. Brewster. "Intestinal permeability and diarrhoeal disease in Aboriginal Australians." Archives of Disease in Childhood 81, no. 4 (October 1, 1999): 304–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.81.4.304.
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Gentile, Victoria, Adrian Carter, and Laura Jobson. "Examining the Associations Between Experiences of Perceived Racism and Drug and Alcohol Use in Aboriginal Australians." Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet 3, no. 1 (2022): 1–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.14221/aihjournal.v3n1.3.
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Objective This study aimed to explore the relationships between experiences of perceived racism, mental health and drug and alcohol use among Aboriginal Australians. Method Sixty-two Aboriginal Australians, ranging in age from 19-64 years (Mage = 33.71, SD = 12.47) and residing in Victoria completed an online questionnaire containing measures of perceived racism, alcohol use, substance use and mental health. Results First, 66% of the sample reported experiencing interpersonal racism, with the highest proportion of reported experiences occurring in health settings, educational/academic settings and by staff of government agencies. Second, perceived racism was significantly associated with poorer mental health and well-being. Finally, while perceived racism was not significantly associated with substance use, there was an indirect pathway from perceived racism to substance use through mental health concerns. Conclusions The current research indicates that racism is still frequently experienced by Aboriginal Australians and is directly associated with poorer mental health, and indirectly with substance use through poorer mental health. The findings demonstrate a clear need for further research in this area.
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Dudgeon, Pat, and Roz Walker. "Decolonising Australian Psychology: Discourses, Strategies, and Practice." Journal of Social and Political Psychology 3, no. 1 (August 21, 2015): 276–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v3i1.126.
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Colonisation in Australia has had a devastating and lasting impact on the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia (herein referred to as Indigenous Australians). This paper discusses the role of psychology in Australia and the negative impact that certain disciplinary theories and practices have had on Indigenous Australians. The impact has been further exacerbated by the failure of mainstream policy makers and mental health practitioners to recognise the key, distinctive cultural and social determinants that contribute to Aboriginal health and wellbeing. There is a growing response by Aboriginal psychologists, critical social theorists, and their allies to decolonise psychological theory and practice to redress this situation. This paper outlines key decolonising strategies that have been effective in interrupting those aspects of psychology that are inimical to Aboriginal wellbeing.
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Wang, Zhiqiang, Wendy Hoy, and Stephen McDonald. "Body Mass Index in Aboriginal Australians in remote communities." Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 24, no. 6 (December 2000): 570–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-842x.2000.tb00519.x.
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Bell, Lorraine, Kate Anderson, Afaf Girgis, Samar Aoun, Joan Cunningham, Claire E. Wakefield, Shaouli Shahid, et al. "“We Have to Be Strong Ourselves”: Exploring the Support Needs of Informal Carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with Cancer." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 14 (July 7, 2021): 7281. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147281.
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Informal carers provide an important role in supporting people with cancer. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience higher cancer mortality than other Australians. To date, very little is known about the support needs of carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults with cancer. This article explored these needs through a qualitative study. Twenty-two semi-structured qualitative interviews and one focus group were conducted with carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults with cancer (n = 12) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer survivors (n = 15) from Queensland, Australia. Half of the carers interviewed were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australians. Interviews were transcribed, coded and thematically analysed following an interpretive phenomenological approach. Thematic analysis of carer and survivor interviews revealed four key themes relating to carers’ needs: managing multiple responsibilities; maintaining the carer’s own health and wellbeing; accessing practical support and information; and engaging with the health system. Within these overarching themes, multiple needs were identified including specific needs relevant for carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, such as advocating for the patient; accessing Indigenous support services and health workers; and ensuring that the cultural needs of the person are recognised and respected. Identifying the needs of informal carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer patients will enable greater understanding of the support that carers require and inform the development of strategies to meet these areas of need.
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Raeburn, Toby, Kayla Sale, Paul Saunders, and Aunty Kerrie Doyle. "Aboriginal Australian mental health during the first 100 years of colonization, 1788–1888: a historical review of nineteenth-century documents." History of Psychiatry 33, no. 1 (December 13, 2021): 3–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0957154x211053208.
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Past histories charting interactions between British healthcare and Aboriginal Australians have tended to be dominated by broad histological themes such as invasion and colonization. While such descriptions have been vital to modernization and truth telling in Australian historical discourse, this paper investigates the nineteenth century through the modern cultural lens of mental health. We reviewed primary documents, including colonial diaries, church sermons, newspaper articles, medical and burial records, letters, government documents, conference speeches and anthropological journals. Findings revealed six overlapping fields which applied British ideas about mental health to Aboriginal Australians during the nineteenth century. They included military invasion, religion, law, psychological systems, lunatic asylums, and anthropology.
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DiGiacomo, Michelle L., Sandra C. Thompson, Julie S. Smith, Kate P. Taylor, Lynette A. Dimer, Mohammed A. Ali, Marianne M. Wood, Timothy G. Leahy, and Patricia M. Davidson. "'I don't know why they don't come': barriers to participation in cardiac rehabilitation." Australian Health Review 34, no. 4 (2010): 452. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah09803.
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Objectives. To describe health professionals’ perceptions of Aboriginal people’s access to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) services and the role of institutional barriers in implementing the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines Strengthening Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Design. Qualitative study. Setting. Metropolitan and rural tertiary and community-based public CR services and Aboriginal health services in WA. Participants. Thirty-eight health professionals working in the CR setting. Method. Semistructured interviews were undertaken with 28 health professionals at public CR services and 10 health professionals from Aboriginal Medical Services in WA. The participants represented 17 services (10 rural, 7 metropolitan) listed in the WA Directory of CR services. Results. Emergent themes included (1) a lack of awareness of Aboriginal CR patients’ needs; (2) needs related to cultural awareness training for health professionals; and (3) Aboriginal health staff facilitate access for Aboriginal patients. Conclusions. Understanding the institutional barriers to Aboriginal participation in CR is necessary to recommend viable solutions. Promoting cultural awareness training, recruiting Aboriginal health workers and monitoring participation rates are important in improving health outcomes. What is already known about this subject? Significant health and social inequity exists for Aboriginal Australians. Despite the persisting high rates of morbidity and mortality related to cardiovascular disease in Aboriginal Australians, participation rates in cardiac rehabilitation remain low. What does this paper add? Despite widespread dissemination of NHMRC guidelines, there remains a disconnect between CR health professionals’ understandings and practices and the needs of Aboriginal people in WA. Increasing the volume and quality of cultural awareness training as well as access to Aboriginal health professionals are crucial in addressing this disparity. What are the implications for practitioners? Increasing the number and support of Aboriginal people trained as health professionals will assist the system to respond better to the needs of communities. Collaborative partnership models where Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal health professionals work together to increase mutual understanding are warranted.
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Cosh, Suzanne, Lauren Maksimovic, Kerry Ettridge, David Copley, and Jacqueline A. Bowden. "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander utilisation of the Quitline service for smoking cessation in South Australia." Australian Journal of Primary Health 19, no. 2 (2013): 113. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py11152.
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Smoking prevalence among Indigenous Australians far exceeds that of non-Indigenous Australians and is considered the greatest contributor to burden of disease for Indigenous Australians. The Quitline is a primary intervention for facilitating smoking cessation and, given the health implications of tobacco use, maximising its effectiveness for Indigenous Australians is imperative. However, the utilisation and effectiveness of this service within the Indigenous Australian population has not been examined. This study explores the utilisation of the South Australian Quitline by smokers identifying as Indigenous Australian. Quitline counsellors collected data regarding demographic characteristics, and smoking and quitting behaviour from Quitline callers in 2010. Results indicated that the proportion of Indigenous and non-Indigenous smokers who registered for the service was comparable. Demographic variables and smoking addiction at time of registration with the Quitline were similar for Indigenous and non-Indigenous callers. However, results indicated that Indigenous callers received significantly fewer callbacks than non-Indigenous callers and were significantly less likely to set a quit date. Significantly fewer Indigenous callers reported that they were still successfully quit at 3 months. Thus, Indigenous Australian callers may be less engaged with the Quitline and further research is required exploring whether the service could be tailored to make it more engaging for Indigenous Australians who smoke.
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Bainbridge, Roxanne, Mary Whiteside, and Janya McCalman. "Being, Knowing, and Doing." Qualitative Health Research 23, no. 2 (December 3, 2012): 275–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1049732312467853.
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Researchers working with Aboriginal Australian partners are confronted with an array of historical, social, and political complexities which make it difficult to come to theoretical and methodological decisions. In this article, we describe a culturally safe and respectful framework that maintains the intellectual and theoretical rigor expected of academic research. As an Aboriginal woman and two non-Aboriginal women, we discuss the arguments and some of the challenges of using grounded theory methods in Aboriginal Australian contexts, giving examples from our studies of Aboriginal empowerment processes. We argue that the ethics of care and responsibility embedded in Aboriginal research methodologies fit well with grounded theory studies of Aboriginal social processes. We maintain that theory development grounded in data provides useful insights into the processes for raising the health, well-being, and prosperity of Aboriginal Australians.
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Bryant, Joanne, James Ward, Heather Worth, Peter Hull, Sarina Solar, and Sandra Bailey. "Safer sex and condom use: a convenience sample of Aboriginal young people in New South Wales." Sexual Health 8, no. 3 (2011): 378. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sh10138.
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Background This paper examines condom use in a sample of Aboriginal young people in New South Wales (NSW) aged 16–30 years. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected using hand-held computer devices from 293 Aboriginal people attending two Aboriginal events in NSW. Results: Almost two-thirds of respondents reported having had a casual sex partner in the previous 6 months. Of these, 39.2% reported always using a condom with casual partners. Having always used a condom with casual partners varied among respondents, and was more likely among younger respondents (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2–6.1) and less likely among those who used illicit drugs (AOR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1–0.7). Conclusions: In comparison to published studies of other Australians, casual sex appears to be more common among this sample of Aboriginal young people; however, the proportion who report having always used condoms with casual partners is very similar. This suggests that although casual sex is more common, Aboriginal young people do not engage in risky behaviour any more often than other young Australians. Further work should be conducted with those who do not always use condoms, such as those who are older and who use illicit drugs, particularly with regards to how abstinence from drug use supports protective behaviours such as condom use among this population of Aboriginal young people.
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Kerrigan, Vicki, Rarrtjiwuy Melanie Herdman, David P. Thomas, and Marita Hefler. "'I still remember your post about buying smokes': a case study of a remote Aboriginal community-controlled health service using Facebook for tobacco control." Australian Journal of Primary Health 25, no. 5 (2019): 443. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py19008.
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Many Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) embrace Facebook as an organisational tool to share positive stories, which counter the negative narrative surrounding Aboriginal issues. However, the Facebook algorithm prioritises posts on personal pages over organisations. To take advantage of the algorithm, this project paid three Yolŋu employees of a north-east Arnhem Land ACCHS to share quit smoking messages on their personal Facebook pages. Smoking prevalence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians is nearly three-fold higher than non-Indigenous Australians, and previous research has identified the need for culturally appropriate communication approaches to accelerate the decline in Indigenous smoking. This research found Yolŋu participants nurtured healthy behaviours through compassionate non-coercive communications, in contrast to fear-inducing health warnings prevalent in tobacco control. Cultural tailoring of tobacco control messages was achieved by having trusted local health staff sharing, and endorsing, messages regardless of whether the content was Indigenous specific. This research also revealed online Facebook activity does not reflect the reach of posts, which may extend beyond social media users to individuals who do not have a Facebook profile.
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Graham, Simon, Catherine C. O'Connor, Stephen Morgan, Catherine Chamberlain, and Jane Hocking. "Prevalence of HIV among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: a systematic review and meta-analysis." Sexual Health 14, no. 3 (2017): 201. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sh16013.
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Background Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (Aboriginal) are Australia’s first peoples. Between 2006 and 2015, HIV notifications increased among Aboriginal people; however, among non-Aboriginal people, notifications remained relatively stable. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to examine the prevalence of HIV among Aboriginal people overall and by subgroups. Methods: In November 2015, a search of PubMed and Web of Science, grey literature and abstracts from conferences was conducted. A study was included if it reported the number of Aboriginal people tested and those who tested positive for HIV. The following variables were extracted: gender; Aboriginal status; population group (men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, adults, youth in detention and pregnant females) and geographical location. An assessment of between study heterogeneity (I2 test) and within study bias (selection, measurement and sample size) was also conducted. Results: Seven studies were included; all were cross-sectional study designs. The overall sample size was 3772 and the prevalence of HIV was 0.1% (I2 = 38.3%, P = 0.136). Five studies included convenient samples of people attending Australian Needle and Syringe Program Centres, clinics, hospitals and a youth detention centre, increasing the potential of selection bias. Four studies had a sample size, thus decreasing the ability to report pooled estimates. Conclusions: The prevalence of HIV among Aboriginal people in Australia is low. Community-based programs that include both prevention messages for those at risk of infection and culturally appropriate clinical management and support for Aboriginal people living with HIV are needed to prevent HIV increasing among Aboriginal people.
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Glasson, E. J., S. G. Sullivan, R. Hussain, and A. H. Bittles. "An assessment of intellectual disability among Aboriginal Australians." Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 49, no. 8 (August 2005): 626–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2005.00722.x.
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Donato, Ronald, and Leonie Segal. "Does Australia have the appropriate health reform agenda to close the gap in Indigenous health?" Australian Health Review 37, no. 2 (2013): 232. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah12186.
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This paper provides an analysis of the national Indigenous reform strategy – known as Closing the Gap – in the context of broader health system reforms underway to assess whether current attempts at addressing Indigenous disadvantage are likely to be successful. Drawing upon economic theory and empirical evidence, the paper analyses key structural features necessary for securing system performance gains capable of reducing health disparities. Conceptual and empirical attention is given to the features of comprehensive primary healthcare, which encompasses the social determinants impacting on Indigenous health. An important structural prerequisite for securing genuine improvements in health outcomes is the unifying of all funding and policy responsibilities for comprehensive primary healthcare for Indigenous Australians within a single jurisdictional framework. This would provide the basis for implementing several key mutually reinforcing components necessary for enhancing primary healthcare system performance. The announcement to introduce a long-term health equality plan in partnership with Aboriginal people represents a promising development and may provide the window of opportunity needed for implementing structural reforms to primary healthcare. What is known about the topic? Notwithstanding the intention of previous policies, considerable health disparity exists between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Australia has now embarked on its most ambitious national Indigenous health reform strategy, but there has been little academic analysis of whether such reforms are capable of eliminating health disadvantage for Aboriginal people. What does the paper add? This paper provides a critical analysis of Indigenous health reforms to assess whether such policy initiatives are likely to be successful and outlines key structural changes to primary healthcare system arrangements that are necessary to secure genuine system performance gains and improve health outcomes for Indigenous Australians. What are the implications for practitioners? For policymakers, the need to establish genuine partnership and engagement between Aboriginal people and the Australian government in pursuing a national Indigenous reform agenda is of critical importance. The establishment of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples provides the opportunity for policymakers to give special status to Indigenous Australians in health policy development and create the institutional breakthrough necessary for effecting primary healthcare system change.
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Thompson, Sandra C., Emma Haynes, John A. Woods, Dawn C. Bessarab, Lynette A. Dimer, Marianne M. Wood, Frank M. Sanfilippo, Sandra J. Hamilton, and Judith M. Katzenellenbogen. "Improving cardiovascular outcomes among Aboriginal Australians: Lessons from research for primary care." SAGE Open Medicine 4 (January 1, 2016): 205031211668122. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2050312116681224.
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Background: The Aboriginal people of Australia have much poorer health and social indicators and a substantial life expectancy gap compared to other Australians, with premature cardiovascular disease a major contributor to poorer health. This article draws on research undertaken to examine cardiovascular disparities and focuses on ways in which primary care practitioners can contribute to reducing cardiovascular disparities and improving Aboriginal health. Methods: The overall research utilised mixed methods and included data analysis, interviews and group processes which included Aboriginal people, service providers and policymakers. Workshop discussions to identify barriers and what works were recorded by notes and on whiteboards, then distilled and circulated to participants and other stakeholders to refine and validate information. Additional engagement occurred through circulation of draft material and further discussions. This report distils the lessons for primary care practitioners to improve outcomes through management that is attentive to the needs of Aboriginal people. Results: Aspects of primordial, primary and secondary prevention are identified, with practical strategies for intervention summarised. The premature onset and high incidence of Aboriginal cardiovascular disease make prevention imperative and require that primary care practitioners understand and work to address the social underpinnings of poor health. Doctors are well placed to reinforce the importance of healthy lifestyle at all visits to involve the family and to reduce barriers which impede early care seeking. Ensuring better information for Aboriginal patients and better integrated care for patients who frequently have complex needs and multi-morbidities will also improve care outcomes. Conclusion: Primary care practitioners have an important role in improving Aboriginal cardiovascular care outcomes. It is essential that they recognise the special needs of their Aboriginal patients and work at multiple levels both outside and inside the clinic for prevention and management of disease. A toolkit of proactive and holistic opportunities for interventions is proposed.
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Liaw, Siaw Teng, Phyllis Lau, Priscilla Pyett, John Furler, Marlene Burchill, Kevin Rowley, and Margaret Kelaher. "Successful chronic disease care for Aboriginal Australians requires cultural competence." Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 35, no. 3 (May 31, 2011): 238–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2011.00701.x.
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Davidson, Patricia M., Moyez Jiwa, Michelle L. DiGiacomo, Sarah J. McGrath, Phillip J. Newton, Angela J. Durey, Dawn C. Bessarab, and Sandra C. Thompson. "The experience of lung cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and what it means for policy, service planning and delivery." Australian Health Review 37, no. 1 (2013): 70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ah10955.
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Background. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience inferior outcomes following diagnosis of lung cancer. Aim. To examine the experience of lung cancer in this population and identify reasons for poorer outcomes and lower levels of treatment compared with non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and opportunities for early intervention. Method. Literature was sought via electronic database searches and journal hand-searching for the period from January 1995 to July 2010. Databases used included Indigenous HealthInfoNet, SCOPUS, PsycInfo, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline, HealthInsite and Google Scholar. Findings. Exposure to risk factors, cultural and spiritual values, remoteness and geographic characteristics, entrenched socioeconomic inequalities and racism contribute to reduced service access and poor outcomes. The review highlighted a complex interplay of individual, social, health system and environmental factors that impact on optimal lung cancer care and lung cancer outcomes. Considering the burden of lung cancer within a framework of social determinants of health is necessary for policy-making and service planning and delivery. Conclusions. It is imperative that the disproportionate burden of lung cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is addressed immediately. Whilst strategic interventions in lung cancer prevention and care are needed, service providers and policy makers must acknowledge the entrenched inequality that exists and consider the broad range of factors at the patient, provider and system level. Primary care strategies and health promotion activities to reduce risk factors, such as smoking, must also be implemented, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ engagement and control at the core of any strategy. This review has indicated that multifaceted interventions, supported by enabling policies that target individuals, communities and health professionals, are necessary to improve lung cancer outcomes and disparities. What is known about the topic? Aboriginal Australians suffer a disproportionate burden of ill health including poor outcomes from lung cancer. What does this paper add? This paper reports the outcomes of an integrative literature review. The paper identifies potential barriers to optimal lung cancer care and management for Aboriginal Australians. This paper describes barriers within the context of individual beliefs and behaviours, healthcare systems issues and environmental issues. The authors conclude that acknowledging entrenched inequality and addressing factors at the patient, provider and system level are needed to reduce the lung cancer burden in Aboriginal Australians. What are the implications for practitioners? This paper highlights the need for a greater focus on lung cancer care, awareness and diagnosis within the Aboriginal Australian population. Addressing culturally appropriate smoking-cessation initiatives is of particular importance. Primary care practitioners are key to reducing the burden of lung cancer in Aboriginal Australians.
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Roy, Meera, and Sivasankaran Balaratnasingam. "Intellectual disability and Aboriginal Australians – training needs for psychiatrists." International Psychiatry 8, no. 2 (May 2011): 31–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/s174936760000240x.
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Aboriginal Australians have relatively high rates of intellectual disability, a situation that is probably due mainly to poor health and social disadvantage. Populations with high rates of intellectual disability are more at risk of developmental disorders and mental ill health. We explore the training needs for psychiatrists working with indigenous people and how they can be met.
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Wellington, David. "Aboriginal Students and Social Justice." Australian Journal of Indigenous Education 20, no. 5 (November 1992): 45–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0310582200005484.
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Social justice has emerged over the past decade to ensure that all Australians have the opportunity to participate fully and effectively in creating and sharing the nation's resources. The South Australian Social Justice Strategy Unit (1989, p.7), suggests that “a sense of social justice fair and equal treatment is built into the Australian character”. Social justice can be applied to all aspects of the Australian society. Health, welfare and education, to name a few.
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Meiklejohn, Judith A., Brian Arley, Ross Bailie, Jon Adams, Gail Garvey, Jennifer H. Martin, Euan T. Walpole, and Patricia C. Valery. "Community-identified recommendations to enhance cancer survivorship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people." Australian Journal of Primary Health 24, no. 3 (2018): 233. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/py17127.
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Indigenous Australians diagnosed with cancer experience higher mortality and lower survival rates compared to non-Indigenous Australians. Reasons are multifaceted and complex. Knowledge about Indigenous cancer survivors’ perspectives of positive cancer survivorship is a gap in research evidence. The study explored cancer survivorship perspectives of Indigenous cancer survivors, their support people and healthcare workers with a view to developing recommendations for cancer survivorship. Indigenous Australians who completed cancer treatment in the previous 6 months to 5 years, their support people and primary healthcare workers were recruited from primary healthcare centres and a large tertiary Queensland hospital. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with written and informed consent obtained prior. Participants emphasised key action areas and recommendations to enhance cancer survivorship, namely: establishing a community cancer advocate and peer support program, availability and use of a cancer-specific Indigenous primary healthcare worker and hospital-based Indigenous patient navigator, as well as adoption of question prompt lists and cancer survivorship care plans. Existing research suggests significant benefits from implementing the key recommendations identified in this study. Greater support and commitment across health sectors and funding bodies is needed to promote institutional change and health system development.