The sociological imagination template

Running head: SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION TEMPLATE
Diabetes management in Aboriginal Australia
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SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION TEMPLATE1
Introduction
Diabetes is one of the most significant health concerns of Australia and the most rapidly
growing chronic disease. The highest impact and burden of this disease is observed among
the disadvantaged sections of the society and the Indigenous population. In Australia, the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations face a highly disproportionate level of
diabetes. On average, they are triple-fold more susceptible to developing type 1 diabetes and
eight times likely of developing type 2 diabetes compared to their non-Indigenous
counterparts (Schierhout et al., 2016). Moreover, the women of this community display two-
time more likelihood of developing gestational diabetes than the women of the non-
Indigenous communities (Chamberlain et al., 2015). The primary concern of this disease
among this community is their six-fold fatality rate in comparison to the other communities
of Australia. This paper emphasizes on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
It is divided into two parts, wherein the first part uses the sociological imagination template
to discuss the historical, structural and cultural factors associated with diabetes. The second
part elaborates on the critical factors with a focus on the chief diabetes-related issues,
government policies addressing these issues and a suitable diabetes program for the chosen
community.
Part 1: Sociological imagination template
The most recent reports from the Australian Burden of Disease Study (2011) estimated that
the mortality burden for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders due to diseases and injuries
and more importantly, the gap in the health status of this community with other non-
Indigenous communities is broadening. Among all the diseases, diabetes reports the highest
cause of fatalities in this community. Thus, it is essential to evaluate the factors associated

SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION TEMPLATE2
with the increasing prevalence of diabetes specifically among this community. A holistic
approach for the evaluation of the factors is effective, which can be done by using the
sociological imagination template. This term was first coined by C. Wright and stated that a
majority of the social problems cannot be resolved by individual solution but require an
understanding of the historical, structural, cultural and critical factors associated with it
(Blommaert, 2018).
Historical factors
The people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descend and practice the primitive
lifestyle of hunter-gatherers for a long time extending up to the late 18th century. However,
with the Europeans’ arrival and colonization in 1788 resulted in significant lifestyle
modifications. Their traditional practices included the discovery of renewable resources and
food, maintenance of cultural and family traditions, and sustenance of their spiritual
connection to their country experienced changes with time. Besides, the changes observed in
their nutritional habits and physical activities served as chief risk factors for diabetes and its
increasing prevalence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, specifically in the
later phase of the 20th century (Sherwood & Geia, 2014). The early cases of diabetes among
the communities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were reported in the year 1923 in
Adelaide. The health reports of the people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders before
this case demonstrated that the people were lean and fit, and suffered no particular metabolic
condition of the European origin. This suggested that the European colonization is a
significant historical factor associated with the development of diabetes within these
indigenous communities. Gradually, the prevalence of diabetes among these communities
rose exponentially and detailed investigations on the case began in the 1960s. These detailed
investigations resulted in the conclusion of direct correlation between the development of
diabetes and the adoption of Western-style habits of living, which include a shift from the

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traditional nutrition-rich food habits to ultra-processed and fast foods of the Western culture
(Al-Yaman, 2017).
Structural factors
Socioeconomic divisions in the structure of the society expose the marginalized and socially
disadvantaged sections of the society to adverse health outcomes. These health disparities are
widespread and an essential factor for the growing incidence of diabetes among the
communities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. These communities lack inadequate
structural infrastructure, which broadly includes physical infrastructure, economic
opportunities and social conditions (Singh, 2018). The physical infrastructure of this
community is deficient in their housing and living conditions, and access to health care
setting and facilities, which are potential reasons for an elevated exposure to unhealthy
conditions. Secondly, the economic opportunities available to these communities is not
equitable and face significant barriers. The employment scope and family incomes are below
average for a majority of the community, leading to reduced standards of living. Lastly, the
social conditions of these communities are also not up to the level of their other counterparts.
Poor social conditions such as racism, incarceration and devotion to their lands are potential
structural factors associated with diabetes.
Cultural factors
The culture is regarded as the primary factor of determining health to an Indigenous outlook
on life, and hence, critically influence the health status and behaviours of the community. The
cultural beliefs of the people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander believe in the
connection of the prevalence of diabetes with family history or kinship group. The trends of
tobacco smoking among the community is a major cultural factor associated with the growing
incidence of diabetes. A study conducted on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders