Aboriginal Health Issues Essay Example

that they are young is based on their higher fertility rates and higher mortality rates at all ages compared to non-aboriginal Australians. The fertility for aboriginal women in 2011 was 2.74 babies compared with 1.92 for all Australian women.( Douglas,2013)

The Australian ministry of health for Aboriginal Affairs discussed current government approaches to the providence of health care facilities for the aboriginal people. The government recognizes that the aboriginal communities feel oppressed and discriminated against by non-Aboriginal population and that interventions developed by the non-aboriginal maybe not be appropriate for use in aboriginal community. Accordingly, current government polices promote Aboriginal control over the managing and operating of Aboriginal development programs, including the provision of health care services. Between 1983-1985, the number of aboriginal controlled health units increased from 27-45, and government funding for these programs increased. In addition, 46 community controlled alcoholism projects and 9 community controlled dental projects were initiated during 1084 and 1985.These programs(Douglas, 2013). These programs allow the aborigines to acquire a feeling of control over their life style and the growth of their own community. Once the Aborigines develop a sense of control of their lives, they are much willing and have ability to establish constructive relationships with the non-aboriginal population. The government supports learning programs for aborigines interested in becoming health workers and health professionals. Moreover, the government recognizes the significance of traditional medicine in the aboriginal community and encourages all non-aboriginal health specialists to develop their sensitivity to Aboriginal requests and initiatives. The government also promotes the provision of basic health care and recognizes that health care services constitute only one aspect of community development. (O’Brien, 1973)
According to Anderson, et

al (2007), some of the diseases affecting the aboriginal population are as follows:

Cardiovascular diseases; are all diseases and conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. Presents a big burden for the aboriginal population in conditions of prevalence, hospitalization and mortality. These diseases include hypertension, ischemic diseases and cardiovascular illness including stroke. Cardiovascular diseases are mainly by lack of exercise, poor eating habits, and excessive alcohol consumption among others. An illness that the heart, joints, brains and skin leads to permanent damage to the heart valves which is a rare case among non-aboriginal Australians and is caused by an untreated bacteria. The Aboriginal communities require efforts to address the social, economic and environmental inequalities that Aboriginal people experience.

Cancer; is term used for a variety of diseases that cause damage in the genetic nucleus(DNA)of the cells causing uncontrolled growth. If damaged cells spread into surrounding areas, or to various parts of the body and they are known to be malignant. Cancerous cells can arise from almost any cell hence cancer can occur anywhere in the body parts. Until recently the impact of cancer on Aboriginal people has attracted much less attention than it deserves. Though there have been improvements for identification in cancer registries, currently there are no nationwide incidence data for cancer.

Kidney disorder; The main function of the kidney is to regulate the mineral content, water content and an acidity of the body as well as being involved in the excretion of metabolic waste product and chemicals. Kidney disease, renal disease and renal disorder are collective terms that refer to variety of different disease processes that affect the kidneys. These diseases processes involve damage to

the working units of the kidney and consequent reduction in filtering capacity. Severe kidney disease and kidney failure are more prevalent among Aboriginal people compared to non-Aboriginal but the high rates of end-stage renal disease among the Aboriginal have only been fully recognized in the past years. Among the Aboriginal, a number of risk factors are associated with kidney disease include diabetes, infections low birth weight, high blood pressure, and obesity (MacMillan et al, 1996)

The research shows that health checks for order aboriginal in the September quarter of 2009 were twice the rate recorded in the march quarter of 2006. Compared with non-Aboriginal group consultants between 2005 and 2010 Aboriginal Australians had higher rates of management for diabetes, asthma, asthma, infection and drug use, but lower management rates for preventable measures such as vaccinations and cardiac check-ups (Homes et al,2004.Aboriginal Australians used emergency health care services more often than non-Aboriginal Australians, accounting for more than 3%of presentations in 2009-2010. Admisions of Aboriginal Australians in public hospitals were nearly four times the rate of other Australians. Aboriginal Australians accounted for 6.5%of community mental health service contacts in 2008-2009 close to three times the rate for non-Aboriginal Australians (Kirmayer, et al 2003). More than one third of aboriginal users of specialist disability services had intellectual disability as their primary reason for activity limitations. Aboriginals accessed support services at rates equivalent to those of non-Aboriginal Australians in 2008-2009. In 2008, Aboriginal Australian with severe or profound core activity limitations encountered transport problems almost double as often as people without disability and had difficulty accessing health and community services. Of all aged care residents on 30 June 2009, only

0.6%of permanent residents and 0.9%of respite residents were identified as being of Aboriginal origin. At 30 June 2008, more than half of all Aboriginal households were receiving housing assistance through various housing and rental programs (Warry, 2013). Aboriginal Australians accessed specialist homeliness services at relatively high rates, making up almost one in five of all users of services in 2008-2009 almost three quarters of aboriginal clients were feamales.Almost half of accompanying children aged 0-4 years presented to specialist homelessness services in 2008-2009 were Aboriginal. In 2008-2009, Aboriginal couples both with and without children most often sought help due to accommodation problems including overcrowding (Ko, Y. C, et al 1994) Conclusion

The social origins of mental health problems in Aboriginal communities requested social and political solution. Research on variations in the prevalence of mental health disorders across many communities may provide significant information on community–level variables to supplement literature that focuses basically on individual level factors. The mental health promotion that emphasizes youth and community empowerment is likely to have a broad effect on mental health and wellbeing in aboriginal communities

References

1. Smylie, J. (2001). A guide for health professionals working with Aboriginal peoples: health issues affecting Aboriginal peoples. Ribosome Communications.
2. MacMillan, H. L., MacMillan, A. B., Offord, D. R., & Dingle, J. L. (1996). Aboriginal health. CMAJ: Australian Medical Association Journal, 155(11), 1569.
3. Ko, Y. C., Liu, B. H., & Hsieh, S. F. (1994). Issues on aboriginal health in Australia. Gaoxiong yi xue ke xue za zhi= The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences, 10(7), 337-351.
4. Holmes, W., Stewart, P., Garrow, A., Anderson, I., & Thorpe, L. (2002). Researching Aboriginal health: experience from a study of urban young people's health and well-being. Social Science
   

& Medicine, 54(8), 1267-1279.