Aboriginal Family Care Study

The health of Aboriginal people in Canada is both a tragedy and a crisis (Aboriginal Affairs and North Development Canada, 2010). Aboriginals have a higher rate of death among aboriginal babies, twice the national average, higher rate of Infectious diseases example gastrointestinal infections to tuberculosis, and chronic and degenerative diseases such as cancer and heart disease are affecting more aboriginal people than they once did (AANDC, 2010). Availability of important medical facility is not enough to accommodate the growing medical needs of Aboriginals. A socioeconomic and cultural issue also hinders the access of aboriginals to access health care in the community.

The indigenous people of Australia, mainly Aboriginals and the Torres Strait Islanders typically die at younger ages and develop disability or reduced quality of life more often than the other mainstream Australian population. One important factor in the well-being of these indigenous populations is the access to mainstream health care systems in place. There is a wide health gap between indigenous and non-indigenous populations in Australia which is of a growing concern for the Australian Government and also considered as a human rights issue by the United Nations. The health policy for indigenous population in Australia is guided by the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health 2003-2013.There are

The Indigenous health workforce (doctors, nurses etc.) remains disproportionately low when compared to the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders that make up the Australian population.

Why are Indigenous people in Australia still disadvantaged with regard to health care and services?

According to Vass, Mitchell, and Dhurrkay (2011), the incidence of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, renal disease, cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive airway disease among Indigenous Australians is quite significant. In addition, the presence of mental health conditions and infectious diseases such as scabies, skin infections and rheumatic fever has also attributed considerably to the disease burden (Vass, et al, 2011). As a disability support worker, I had the opportunity to look after indigenous clients. With my experience working with them, it shed some light on me with how they value their culture and gave me an insight on their view about health concerning issues. I had my misconceptions about how aboriginal people

The colonial occupation and subsequent oppression has a greatly impact to the health of indigenous population across Australia. There is still lapses in regards to biomedical and ethnomedical models of health that still needed to work on in order to provide the quality care that is culturally appropriate and acceptable by the indigenous

Firstly, the nurse should avoid maintaining eye contact with an Aboriginal client to avoid appearing “intrusive, threatening, or harmful” (Potter, 2014, p. 247). Next, the nurse should not assume how the Aboriginal client is feeling based on their calm demeanor. For instance, the nurse should not assume that an Aboriginal client that appears to be calm is not experiencing discomfort. Secondly, if the nurse is faced with a language barrier, the nurse may request a translator for the Aboriginal client. Depending on the available resources, the translator may be sourced from the facility or the community. Thirdly, the nurse should ask Aboriginal tribe members for education regarding traditional Aboriginal practices. For instance, the nurse may learn death rituals that are tribe specific, such as burying personal possessions with the individual (Eliopoulos, 2010, p. 30). Next, the nurse must respect that the Aboriginal client may prefer treatment in the form of “spiritual rituals, medicine men, herbs, home-made drugs, and mechanical interventions such as suction cups” (Eliopoulos, 2010, p. 29). In addition, the nurse should be aware of the emphasis on harmonious family relations and “reverence for the Great Creator” in Aboriginal culture (Eliopoulos, 2010, p. 29). If available, the nurse should direct the Aboriginal client and their family to the nearest

The health plan has six key priority areas addressing the main issues concerning health in Aboriginal Victorians (Victorian

The inequalities in today’s indigenous communities are still strongly evident. Heard, Khoo & Birrell (2009), argued that while there has been an attempt in narrowing the gap between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians, a barrier still exists in appropriate health care reaching indigenous people. The Indigenous people believe, health is more than the individual, it is

Since the 1970’s, many Indigenous communities have established their own independent, community-controlled health services (ACCHs) and an over-arching representatives advocacy body, the National Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisation (NACCHO previously NAIHO) was formed in 1975.

There are several factors responsible for this health disparity. Lack of screening test, and not follow up for disease. Living in the remote area is major barrier that prevent them getting access to the primary health care. There may be possibility that aboriginals can be neglected because of their race. Following culture is anther barrier that prevents the access of health. Lack of knowledge, superstation are very prevalent in the aboriginals. These all factors impact the

The North East LHIN continue to work on advancements in Aboriginal health initiatives that help improve access and coordination for the individuals who live in Northeastern Ontario. The challenges that occurred with the Northeastern Aboriginals were that they experienced lower health status, than the rest of the population that lived in Northeastern Ontario (NE LHIN, 2016). The reconciliation and health care strategy plan was a necessity for the aboriginals in order to improve gaps and duplications of services provided, unused technology due to lack of knowledge and staff and to overall sustain the community (NE LHIN, 2016). In the opportunities strategic direction, the plan's goal was to increase

Patients that want to receive a drug exemption that is not listed on the Non-Insured health benefit (NIHB) Programs drug benefit list must complete a long lengthy paperwork process that can take weeks or even months to complete. This procedure can be complicated when the aboriginal patient must depend on visiting specialist that are only available for appointments once a month. In the north the effects of lack of access to the health services have caused patients to leave their communities to get more specialized care , they are usually send to the south for medical emergencies, hospitalization, appointments with medical specialists , diagnosis and treatments . In 2005, 5% of Inuit’s had been away from their homes for one of more months due to illness effects (Access to health services as a social determinant of first nations, in unit and metis health). Many children are suffering because of their health. Some families don’t have enough money to get their children medicine or a cure for their disease. Some families are struggling to reach for help and also many families struggle financially, so they may not have the money to get a cure or medicine. Non- aboriginal people can just easily go out and get medication and simply cure themselves from the sickness but aboriginals have difficulties accessing the health systems that we have and that can be a hard task. If aboriginals have a

Access to the communities is provided year round by Wasaya Airline and airstrips that are maintained by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Of course, each Aboriginal community is unique with its own set of traditions and ways of healing but my observation after working within the communities for over ten years is that they all suffer from improperished conditions and substandard housing. The local economies are primarily based upon government services (Indian and Northern Affairs) (INAC) and small business. Most of the reserves have six hundred people or less, and each community has a nursing station. The nursing stations are well-maintained functional buildings built in or about the early 1960’s and are maintained by Health Canada. First Nations and Inuit Health (FNIH) maintains responsibility for primary care services in the majority of the northwest Ontario reserve communities. In the north, nurses are the primary care givers working in an extended scope of practice, and client care is centrally coordinated by nurses working within interdisciplinary teams. The majority of the nursing and medical staff working for FNIH in the Sioux Lookout zone are Caucasian and do not come from local communities. This could outwardly appear as a reinforcement of power relations in the racial identities. There is only very limited cultural training given to employees when they are employed by FNIH. Medical advice and

The rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to own and control their cultural heritage, and their rights and interests in how they are portrayed (in images, text or the like), must at all times be respected and protected. Proper consultation processes with appropriate cultural authorities should always be followed and approvals and permissions sought accordingly.