Analyzing Coronary Heart Disease Inequity Among Indigenous Australians

This report examines the inequity in coronary heart disease between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, highlighting the higher prevalence and poorer outcomes among Indigenous populations. It discusses socioeconomic, environmental, historical, and cultural factors contributing to this disparity. The report also explores primary health care interventions aimed at addressing this inequity, such as improving access to long-term care and culturally sensitive healthcare services. The importance of cultural knowledge and sensitivity in healthcare is emphasized, noting how cultural differences can affect access to and utilization of primary health care services by Indigenous Australians. The report concludes by stressing the need for healthcare providers to understand and respect Indigenous culture to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities. Desklib provides similar solved assignments and past papers for students.

Health and Society
Assessment 3
Extended ResponseTemplate
Choose one health issue from the list below:
 Smoking
 Coronary heart disease
Answer all of the three questions below based upon this one health issue.
Each extended response should be approximately 500 words in length each.
The reference list for all three extended response should be provided under the references heading
of this template.

Question 1
Discuss two different reasons for inequity between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous
Australians in relation to this health issue.
Indigenous Australians compared to non-indigenous Australians have poor health
outcomes. Life expectancy with indigenous Australian is low; heart diseases are the leading
cause of deaths among indigenous Australians the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are
likely to suffer from heart attack and die without getting medical attention. According to
studies, this group of Australians does not receive the needed medical procedures and
diagnosis such as coronary bypass surgery (ROTHSTEIN, 2018, p.123). Although a
significant number of indigenous Australians are admitted to hospitals with coronary related
issues, the statistics do not account for the procedure rates. Regarding territory the western
and northern territories parts of Australia, there are higher incidences of coronary diseases
compared to New South Wales and Queensland that have lower rates. Indigenous Australians
in the western region are thrice likely to experience heart diseases compare non-indigenous
Australians. Another aspect to note is the likely hood of those living in remote areas reporting
coronary related diseases unlike those living in urban areas.
Torres Strait Islanders and the aboriginals are a disadvantaged group regarding social
indicators when compared to other Australians. Despite continued improvement in health
care and reduction in mortality rates this group of people until exhibit poor health. The life
expectancy of indigenous Australian according to 2015 research is 17 years; they develop
chronic diseases in their early stages of growth, a reason for increased cases in the number of

those hospitalized (SMITH, 2016, p.102). In the year 2004, the comparison of gender showed
that the number of indigenous males and females hospitalized due to coronary heart diseases
was higher compared to non-indigenous. Other prevalence reported in indigenous Australians
included overweight, high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes. Although behavioural and
biomedical risk factors account for the incidences in indigenous population, other
determinants included socioeconomic, environmental, historical and cultural factors
(FUSTER& KELLY 2010, p.67).
Research on coronary heart diseases adds psychosocial especially social isolation,
depression, and lack of social support as other factors that lead to coronary heart diseases. It
is evident that there are inequalities in the Australian health sector affecting Torres islanders
and the aboriginal; the disparity is the primary cause of deaths and reduced survival. A
comparison of procedure and in-hospital fatality rates for indigenous Australians is worse
compared to other Australians. The indigenous Australians suffering from coronary heart
diseases are likely to die in hospital and cannot access required revascularization and
angiography that other Australians can access (ICHOLS et al., 2016, p.345). Although
indigenous Australians have, other co-occurring diseases influenced by among factors stated
above, there is need to reduce the gap inequality in access to health and treatment of severe
diseases as coronary heart diseases. To attain the equality and save lives it is vital that the
planning and delivery of health services are aware of the factors leading to the inequality as
this will aid in bridging the and coming up with comprehensive health service delivery.

Question 2
Provide one example of a Primary Health Care intervention that is addressing this health issue for
Indigenous Australians. Explain the impact this intervention is having on reducing inequity.
Coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases like stoke are the cause of
premature death by Torres Strait Islanders and aboriginal in Australia. The understanding of
cause and treatment of coronary heart disease in the recent years led to a reduction in
mortality. The establishment of therapeutic and preventing strategies that are effective will
reduce the mortality rates due to coronary heart diseases. The indigenous Australians
inequalities exist in access and appropriateness of long-term care. The articulation of the
deficiency in delivery, prevention programs, and treatment programs is an intervention that
will monitor and improve the receipt and outcome of healthcare (CATANZARITI & SENES,
2010, p. 123). The response to health in Australia does not only center on coronary heart
disease but other comorbidities like congestive heart failure, stroke, and rheumatic heart
disease. The primary health care intervention groups the comorbidities into primordial
prevention and primary prevention. Primordial prevention centers on healthy lifestyle,
societal and cultural factors, and quality primary health care. On the other hand, primary
intervention includes factor detection, treatment of diabetes, hypertension, and renal diseases.
Additionally, the response looks at the acute phase of medical emergencies that is chronic
rehabilitation and secondary prevention (GRAY & THOMSON, 2013, p.256). The primary
challenge to the invasion is the low numbers of the aboriginal cardiovascular nurse; another
impediment is the lack of training programs for the workforce needed in the implementation
of healthcare intervention. The performance of the invasion cannot only base on shortfall but
the potential impact on coronary heart disease health. Despite the geographical aspect in
Australia, the intervention program expanded treatment and referral guidelines that support

delivery of healthcare and the coordination of transfer from regional to the tertiary site.
Australia is a combination of culture, the provision of affordable health services in a
culturally sensitive environment is critical to cohesiveness and development. The intervention
to remedy the effect of coronary heart diseases in Australia increased the number of Torres
Strait and Aboriginal Australians in the healthcare sector. Another response is the
development of cardiovascular disease treatment program that aims at training on treatment
and preventions. Additionally, primary caregivers are now working g closely with tertiary
centers and rehabilitation facilities; this facilitates control of risk factor, monitoring of
extended therapies and inclusive decision-making. The realization of this primary healthcare
intervention, objectives is not yet attained. However, a journey improves through the
enhancement of cultural awareness and support given during and through healthcare
provision. A memorandum of understanding between caregivers at tertiary and primary
centers strengthened due to formalization and mutual obligation. Measurement of
performance identified priorities and achievements in the cardiovascular policy targeting
coronary heart diseases in Torres Strait and aboriginal Australians language and culture is a
factor that plays a significant role especially when patients are referred to city hospitals that
are foreign to indigenous Australians (SMITH, 2016, p.112). The level of service delivery is
enhanced by mapping out national outreach programs that build on existing services the
success of the outreach needs continuous maintenance and strengthening.
Question 3

Discuss how cultural knowledge and sensitivity in health care may affect access Primary Health Care
services. Provide one example based on your chosen health issue.
Aboriginal Australians suffer on from health issues compared to the general
Australian population, particularly in heart-related diseases. Although a disparity exists the
aboriginals rarely use the health facilities in place. To improve access to the services it is
essential that the population is given a clear understanding of the importance of the facilities
to their health. The ability to communicate with aboriginals by the nonaboriginal health care
providers is limited by the cultural differences existing between the two parties. The aspect of
cultural appropriateness plays a significant role in Australian health sector. The leading cause
of disagreement is the inability to provide gender-appropriate care that is highly regarded by
the aboriginal. The cultural oversight determines patient’s future use of facility or mistrust on
the system (CATANZARITI & SENES, 2010, p.87).
The Australian government countered the aspect of the culture in health provision by
adopting Aboriginal liaison officer; government-funded interpreters and cultural workers that
bridge barriers in language and aid in reducing fear and anxiety while undergoing a medical
procedure. According to aboriginals, primary health primary health care includes essential
and integrated care based on socially acceptable scientifically sound and practical systems
and technologies that are accessible and to their proximity. The aboriginals believe they must
participate in health procedures that affect their lives. The provision of health care in these
communities requires a deep understanding of the community problems and their
involvement in the regulation of adequate and appropriate channels of addressing the health
problems. The ideal in the provision of healthcare in the aboriginals and Torres Strait needs
to recognize the streets not only their weakness. The two groups have all along survived
despite the policies that were in place; their culture remained paramount that communities

have their strengths. The primary health care includes the engagements ins supporting and
working with the resources in the community health workforce. It is critical to take into
consideration health service delivery regarding focus education and training programs. The
future of teaching models needs to integrate educational programs around communication
strategies and lifestyle changes and the priority o audience (MULLER, L. (2014, p 97).
The aboriginals resisted the use of western practices in health care. The approach by
healthcare systems in place did not consider psychological, cultural, and social behavioural
dimensions that were significant to the aboriginals. The western medical practices conflicted
with the original view of the health care practices that perceived right. The clinical facilities
failed to build a working relationship with the communities; they did not acknowledge
cultural practices and living conditions (HEALEY, 2010, p78). The come lack of enabling
factors influenced individual-level factors. The adverse experience due to culture difference
affected the quality of-of care that patients received; this changed the continued use of health
care facilities by the by the aboriginals. The resistance aggravated situations, and many
aboriginals who needed specialized treatments did not get the required medical attention.

References
CATANZARITI, L., & SENES, S. (2010) Women and heart disease: cardiovascular profile
of women in Australia. Canberra, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
FUSTER, V., & KELLY, B. B. (2010) Promoting cardiovascular health in the developing
world: a critical challenge to achieve global health. Washington, D.C., National Academies
Press.
GRAY, C., & THOMSON, N. (2013) Review of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart
disease among Indigenous Australians. Available at http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-265795639
[Accessed May 19, 2018]
HEALEY, J. (2010) The health of indigenous Australians. Thirroul, N.S.W., The Spinney
Press.
HEALEY, J. (2014. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Available at
http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1756105 [Accessed May 19, 2018]
ICHOLS, M., PETERSON, K., HERBERT, J., ALSTON, L., & ALLENDER, S.
(2016), Australian heart disease statistics 2015. Wiley Publishers.
MULLER, L. (2014) A theory for Indigenous Australian health and human service work:
connecting Indigenous knowledge and practice. Sydney, Allen & Unwin.
NATIONAL HEART FOUNDATION OF AUSTRALIA, (2010), Coronary heart disease:
heart information. [Melbourne], Heart Foundation.

NATIONAL HEART FOUNDATION OF AUSTRALIA, (2010) My heart, my life: a
manual for patients with coronary heart disease. Sage publishers
ROTHSTEIN, W. G. (2018) The coronary heart disease pandemic in the twentieth century:
emergence and decline in advanced countries. Pearson
SMITH, J. D. (2016) Australia's rural, remote and Indigenous health: a social determinant
perspective. Oxford press
SMITH, J. D. (2016) Australia's Rural, Remote and Indigenous Health - eBook. Available at
https://nls.ldls.org.uk/welcome.html?ark:/81055/vdc_100054571442.0x000001 [Accessed
May 19, 2018]