Improving Healthcare Access: Indigenous Health and Well-being Factors

This essay explores the critical need for healthcare providers to consider cultural factors when evaluating and caring for Indigenous patients, focusing on historical context, traditional healing practices, language barriers, and perceptions of racism. It highlights the importance of understanding the historical disadvantages faced by Aboriginal people and how these have been perpetuated by modern social determinants of health, contributing to existing health inequalities such as diabetes. The essay emphasizes creating a culturally safe hospital environment by appreciating Aboriginal values, culture, and identity, and by incorporating traditional healing practices where possible. Effective communication is addressed through the involvement of indigenous health professionals and the provision of culturally appropriate health resources. Furthermore, the essay acknowledges the impact of racism on trust in healthcare providers and suggests strategies for addressing this issue to ensure equitable treatment and improve health outcomes for Indigenous populations. Desklib offers a wealth of similar essays and study resources for students.

Running Head: Indigenous Health and Well Being
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Indigenous Health and Well Being
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Aboriginal’s historical background
There is a need for health workers to take into account the cultural factors so as
appropriately evaluate and provide the required care. It is important to understand that diabetes
occurs alongside a wide range of social, historical, cultural and social determinants which
influence the aboriginal people health. The general disadvantages faced by indigenous people
can be regarded as historical in origin, but they have been prolonged by the modern cultural and
social determinants of health and present indigenous health inequalities. To ensure that the
patient lives in a culturally safe hospital environment I will need to understand the historical
background of the patient so as to have knowledge of how history affects the current and people's
lives. This knowledge will help me to acquire knowledge of any historical factors that may affect
the patient while in the hospital. Understanding historical factors will provide information on
why aboriginal people are more likely to suffer from diabetes than non-aboriginal people. Also,
the specific historical factors are associated with such conditions and their health. Therefore,
when providing care to Aboriginal patients in a hospital setting, the care providers must consider
and respond to the values and principles of the Aboriginal and also appreciate and understand
their health, culture, and identity of aboriginal peoples. Appreciating the history, protocols,
influences, issues, and challenges will provide the knowledge and confidence to provide a
culturally competent hospital environment.
Aboriginal’s traditional healing practices
Also, there is a need to understand the various traditional healing practices which
are embraced by both the urban and rural aboriginal people. Therefore, I will ask the patient to
disclose traditional healing practices and examine them to determine if they can be used in the

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healing process. If there are traditional practices which can be held from the hospital by family
members, then I will consider giving the family a chance to conduct such practices. The aspect of
aboriginal culture should be taken into account when taking care of the patient to make sure that
their holistic health and individual needs are met. This is because a different patient has diverse
beliefs and individual needs, therefore a different approach is considered for every patient.
Consequently, each aboriginal patient from diverse settings such as rural, urban, discrete and
remote has different needs. Therefore, the patient and family will be able to reveal whether there
are certain medical practices which they want them withheld maybe as a result of the traditional
medicine they are taking. This will help the patient to appreciate that their traditional practices
are respected and acknowledged.
Language barrier
Consequently, I will consider understanding communication issues in terms of their
views of health, and the kind of language other staff members are using that sometimes can
result in unsatisfactory communication. In the case of a language barrier, I will consider
involving an indigenous health professional so as to enhance communication. The indigenous
health officer will play a pivotal role by ensuring cultural safety and connection which will help
the patient to understand information regarding their treatment and hospitalization. Also, this
will provide a culturally safe environment where the patient will feel appreciated because he can
share out his problems. In this way, the patient will be able to discuss some private issues which
may be affecting him. Also, the patient will be in a position to interact with other health
professionals who will be able to get the information they require for diagnosis and prognosis.
Limited literacy, lack of information and poor understanding of information about health,
contributes to the failure to comply with the instruction and unsuitable sharing of medicines.

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There is, unfortunately, a substantial shortage of culturally proper comforting care services,
medicine information or rehabilitation services for indigenous people. Therefore, to enhance
communication with the patient I will provide cultural health resources such as posters,
brochures, and booklets which he can use to understand what is required in during treatment.
Understanding Aboriginal’s view on Racism
It is also important to understand the patient’s view on racism and personal experience of
racism. This is because racism among the aboriginal people has led to a lack of trust with non-
Aboriginal healthcare providers because they are treated as if they are non-persons. I will make
him change his attitude toward racism and also understand that despite the fact that racism is
practiced among indigenous people he be assured of acquiring equal treatment as non–aboriginal
people. The patient will appreciate that despite being Aboriginal he will be able to receive every
treatment and he is taken care of as a patient but not as an Aboriginal person. Also, I will seek
advice from indigenous health professionals in order to understand well the patient's perception
of racism and ensure there is no discrimination among indigenous people. Culture and
personality are significant to Aboriginal opinions of ill health and health, which connect to not
only the individual’s physical wellbeing but also to the emotional, cultural, social well‐being of
the community. The indigenous opinions of identity may change between remote and urban
context, and among different communities, often due to the distinct extent of dispossession,
while the principles and core values remain constant. Adding to the intricacy of the provision of
healthcare at all level is the challenge of more commonly distributed and hence unknown urban
indigenous populations more complicated by the hesitancy of some indigenous people to identify
as indigenous.

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