Closing the Gap: Understanding the Health Disparities among Aboriginal Individuals

This assignment discusses the issue of closing the gap in health disparities among Aboriginal individuals. It explores the social determinants that contribute to these gaps and the impact of the closing the gap strategy. The author reflects on their initial beliefs and biases and the importance of providing culturally sensitive care.

Running head: CLOSING GAP
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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CLOSING GAP
In module 1, an issue raised by professor Michael Marmot caught my attention is closing
the gap. The work of Professor Michael Marmot showed that reasons for this health gap of the
Aboriginal individuals are much bigger than any other health issues and it has a deep connection
with the social determinants (Braveman, 2014).
This part of the assignment would provide a description of my feelings about the issue
arise in the class about the stolen generation. Before listening to the piece of information shared
by professor Marmot, I was unaware of the health gaps and I had an impression that Aboriginal
individuals do not look after the health and because of negligence and poor life choices they
developed certain disease which reduced the life expectancy of the individuals and increases
mortality of rate of Aboriginals. Therefore, I have never given so much thought about this issue.
While professor was talking about the history, policy, and statistics related to the social
determinants such as poverty, unemployment, disadvantages, racism are related to the health
gaps I gained an understanding of the health issues. I had inadequate knowledge of social
determinants but I was completely unaware that these determinants affect the wellbeing of the
individuals. Although I never experienced issues related to social determinists, I can feel how
social determinants can affect wellbeing Aboriginal individuals.
The experience of gathering information is optimistic information for me since I was
able to know that how factors social determinants affect the not only this generation but also next
generation and it reformed my beliefs. The social determinants not only affecting one country
but also affect other countries regardless of sociodemographic status (George et al., 2017). I did
not consider these factors played a huge role in the development of the gaps which can be
reduced by closing the gap strategy. After gaining the knowledge of the Aboriginal individuals,
I became more mindful about my opinion which was formed based on the perception I had

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CLOSING GAP
before gaining understanding of the social determinants and closing the gap. My response to this
issue discussed in the class that although wellbeing is individual responsibility of everyone after
gaining knowledge about the closing the gap strategy I came to know social determinants such as
unemployment, racism, poverty, stress, addiction and the social exhaustion influenced the life
expectancy and mortality rate of the individuals. Therefore, the knowledge of how social
determents affect the wellbeing of Aboriginal individuals challenged my beliefs as a nurse.
In the analysis part, I would like to mention that my opinions are based on the lecture of
the professor and the report of closing the gap. The access to the health care services, biological
factors and poor choices of the individuals affected the life expectancy, mortality and chronic
disease rate in Torres Trait Island (Rahaman, Holmes & Chartrand, 2017). The social
determinants largely shaped by the distribution of resources and power and these further
influenced the housing, sanitization related, life expectancy, vulnerability to the chronic disease,
addiction. Therefore, in order to close the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal
individuals, creating the conditions for people which flourish lives, fostering self-
empowerments, acknowledging the cultural beliefs while providing the health care services can
reduce manage the health equalities (Winch et al., 2017).
Considering these experiences, I like to conclude that personal beliefs, inadequate
knowledge of social determinants and closing the gap agenda influenced my thinking process.
Since personal beliefs are deep routed it is difficult to reform beliefs. However, after gaining the
knowledge I became more mindful and sensitive about my opinion and providing culturally
sensitive care to the Aboriginal individuals. Previous I had some biases which influenced my
attitude towards Aboriginal individuals while working as a nurse to provide culturally safe
practice. After gaining the knowledge I become more aware of my attitude.

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CLOSING GAP
From the lecture of the professor, I have gained knowledge about closing the gap which
influenced my beliefs and values. In this case, I would be required to develop interpersonal skills
and cultural competence to provide cultural competence safe and responsive services to
Aboriginal individuals. I would be required to involve myself in the workshops and training in
the indigenous community to gain knowledge of the Aboriginal culture, values, and beliefs
which would further help me to incorporate these in the care service. I would be required to
develop critical reflective skills to reform my beliefs and values so that I can provide unbiased
culturally safe service by following the agenda of closing the gap.

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CLOSING GAP
References:
Braveman, P. A. (2014). What are health disparities and health equity? We need to be clear.
Public Health Reports, 129(S2), 5-8. Retrieved from :
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/00333549141291S203
Georges, N., Guthridge, S. L., Li, S. Q., Condon, J. R., Barnes, T., & Zhao, Y. (2017). Progress
in closing the gap in life expectancy at birth for Aboriginal people in the Northern
Territory, 1967–2012. Medical Journal of Australia, 207(1), 25-30. Retrieved from:
https://www.mja.com.au/system/files/issues/207_01/10.5694mja16.01138.pdf
Rahaman, Z., Holmes, D., & Chartrand, L. (2017). An opportunity for healing and holistic care:
Exploring the roles of health care providers working within Northern Canadian
Aboriginal communities. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 35(2), 185-197. Retrieved from:
https://www.nlcahr.mun.ca/Research_Exchange/zaida_rahaman_article.pdf
Winch, S., Ahmed, N., Rissel, C., Maxwell, M., Coutts, J., & Lucas, K. (2017). The reach and
flow of health information in two Aboriginal communities: a social network
analysis. Australian journal of primary health, 23(2), 189-195. Retrieved from;
http://www.publish.csiro.au/PY/PY16024