Assignment On Vulnerable Population

ABORIGINALS AS A VULNERABLE POPULATION
Social determinants of health and
its impact
The social determinants among the
Aboriginal community include a lack of
access to health care, lower standard of
healthcare infrastructure and a lack of
awareness about the correct health
beliefs, sanitation, hygiene and primary
care. In comparison, to the Australians,
the age expectancy of Indigenuos
people is 17 years less life expectancy
now. Indigenuos people below the age
of 65 have double the chances of dying
than an average Australian (Human
rights, 2017).
Introduction
The aboriginals and Torres strait islanders have
a significant place in the history and culture of
Australia. They are identified as the first people
to make home on this land and their culture is
professed to be at least 3000 years old. Within
the period of 2010-2012 the life expectancy of
an Aboriginal islander person was believed to
only 10.6 years old for men and 9.5 years old for
women. This is a key insight about their
vulnerable status (WHO, 2018).
Vulnerability
The Aboriginals environment and habitat has
dwindled in the last decade. As a result, they
are forced to live in small quarters which are
often overcrowded. This leads to a competition
for the resources and the weaker population is
unlikely to survive for long. Also, after the
colonisation of Australia, their culture and
heritage have faced a great impact. Just over
half the people in the age group 15 to 64 are
employed. Moreover, about half of the children
over the age of 15 had a deformity (Aihw, 2018).
Capacity
There has been a growing trend from 2011 to
educate the islanders so that they can fend for
themselves. However, the literacy rate still
remains low and the highest qualification among
the people still remains a high-school degree
(Human rights, 2017). As a result, there are no
fitting or high paying employment for them that
can help to better their situation. The land,
water and food resources are not accessible or
affordable to the islanders. Many islanders still
continue to live in makeshift tents. The children
and the elderly people are underweight.
Healthcare resources are also not sparsely
available.
Health inequalities
The earning of an average
Aboriginal household is only 55% of
an average Australian household.
This disparity the basis of their
health and quality of life. An
indigenuos person is three times
more likely to contract diabetes,
and as likely to contract heart
diseases within 35 to 44 age group
as an average Australian after the
age of 75 (Human rights, 2017).
Health inequities
Their geographical location in the
remote and unaccessed area is one
of the greatest reasons for their
omission in the healthcare
coverage. The linguistic and
cultural barriers is the healthcare
organisation like differences in
health beliefs, behaviour, language
barrier and their conceptions of
gender and sexuality. These
barriers lead to miscommunication
and may aggravate the condition
making the indigenuos people
more hesitant to accept help
(Williamson et al. 2019).
Health outcomes
The indigenuos people do not have
equal opportunity to have good
health conditions. Their living
conditions do not support the
healthy living. The death rates of
the indigenous people have fallen
to 30% from 70% noted in 1991
(Aihw, 2018). However, there has
been no reduction in the number of
deaths because of cardiovascular
diseases. Their dismal health
References
Human rights, (2017),
Face the facts: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Retrieved from ://
www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/education/face-facts-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples
Human rights, (2017),
Social determinants and the health of Indigenous peoples in Australia – a human rights based approach, Retrieved from
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/news/speeches/social-determinants-and-health-indigenous-peoples-australia-human-rights-based
WHO, (2018),
Australia’s disturbing health disparities set Aboriginals apart, Retrieved from https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/86/4/08-020408/en/
Aihw, (2018),
Insights into vulnerabilities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over—in brief, Retrieved from
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/indigenous-australians/vulnerabilities-aboriginal-torres-strait-50-over/contents/introduction
Williamson, A., Gibberd, A., Hanly, M. J., Banks, E., Eades, S., Clapham, K., & Falster, K. (2019). Social and emotional developmental vulnerability at age five in Aboriginal and non-
Aboriginal children in New South Wales: a population data linkage study.
International journal for equity in health,
18(1), 120.