Lecture 1# - Indigenous Health

Indigenous Health Lecture 1 Notes Overview of Aboriginal Peoples ● Indigenous people are the very first people of a particular region. ● They still keep the traditional, social, and economic practices and languages of their own. - Other examples are the Native Americans, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis of North America; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia; and the Māori of New Zealand. Historical Context: - The colonization was, however, very harsh to the indigenous people in itself. - It involved forced assimilation, displacement, and taking away land and means of production. Social Determinants: Education: Lower grade of education due to systemic barriers. Employment: extremely high underemployment, unemployment, and economic inequality. Shelter: Overcrowding and poor sheltering conditions. Food security: a state of deprivation of access to food, which compromises balanced, nutritional, and healthy dietary needs. Cultural Determinants: ● It is the foundation of health and well-being. ● Heritage practices and knowledge transfer across generations. ● The meaning of traditional medicine and healing practices. - - This can make it difficult to conceptualize Indigenous health as a distinct issue that is not intrinsically tied to the much larger social and cultural determinants that account for the shape of health outcomes. Majorly important critical social determinants for Indigenous health are identified as education, employment, housing, and food security. - Other critical cultural determinants include connection to land and maintenance of traditional practices. It is these essential cultural determinants interfered with by colonization and the loss of cultural practices set by the settlers that have brought up the outcome of health. Health Disparities: Chronic Diseases: - Higher prevalence of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory conditions. - Increased rates of obesity and related health complications. Mental Health: - There are high levels of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. - Intergenerational Loss and Cultural Identity Trauma. Infant and Maternal Health: - Infant mortality also presents a significant difference with non-Indigenous populations. - Limits to care during pregnancy and after childbirth. Generally: The health indicators of proximity between the indigenous and non-indigenous populations vary so greatly that they are unusually stark. ● Their prevalence in chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases is much higher among the indigenous population due to enforced lifestyle changes by colonization, further perpetuated by contemporary socioeconomic adversities. ● They tend to be victims of poor mental health, furthered by the trauma of history and intergenerational trauma. The statistics on infant and maternal health portray higher rates of infant mortalities and considerable hurdles in acquiring adequate prenatal and postnatal care. Barriers to Health Care: ● Geographical isolation is experienced as one of the prime barriers to access the health system by most of the indigenous people. ● At times, it will connect limited provision of health care services in the distant outbacks, hence delaying and reducing the quality of the same. ● Further, the lack of culturally competent healthcare providers adds to the situation, as they do not understand the indigenous perspective on healthcare. *Systemic Racism*: - Racism, in this sense, is systemic. The result has been increased deep distrust in the health system, which makes many not seek the care they should. - The deep-seated mistrust brought about by historical and sustained injustice is a gargantuan barrier to any improvement in health outcomes among such Indigenous populations. Lecture Question: How Can We Help? ● Policies must be put in place that speak more of the specific needs of the indigenous people and try to address them. This can be said of an approach of self-determination, which is generally meant to include communities in the policy and even decision-making of their health. ● Proper governance structures must be put in place to empower the indigenous peoples to have a say in policies and practices touching on their health. 1. Cultural Competency in Healthcare: The skills and competency of the health service provider should be able to instill cultural sensitivity and Indigenous health issues with an understanding of the nature of traditional healing practices within the system. ● This actively contributes to shaping the bridge that Western medicine practice should have in its belief system regarding Indigenous people's health to achieve better health outcomes. 2. Community Engagement and Participation: Strengthening community-led health initiatives and practices is critical to improving Indigenous health. ● Support for doing research led by Indigenous peoples in data collection will help ensure that the health strategies made up are based on what communities specify and are therefore likely to be relevant and practical. ● Giving power back to the Indigenous people would mean sustainable and culturally sensitive solutions.