Case Study Analysis: Asthma Prevalence in Indigenous Australians

This case study examines the prevalence of asthma among Indigenous Australians, highlighting it as a significant public health concern. The assignment delves into the epidemiological data, revealing higher rates of asthma and related hospitalizations within this population compared to the broader Australian community. It explores the social and environmental determinants contributing to this disparity, including socioeconomic disadvantages, limited access to healthcare, cultural factors, and smoking habits. The study analyzes the existing healthcare services, critiques their effectiveness, and recommends the integration of culturally sensitive primary healthcare and indigenous healthcare professionals to improve outcomes and address health inequalities. The case study emphasizes the need for awareness, early diagnosis, and culturally appropriate interventions to combat asthma within the Indigenous Australian community.

Running head: CASE STUDY 1
Case Study
Student’s Name
University

CASE STUDY 2
Description of the health issue and epidemiological data
The asthma report from the ACAM shows that asthma is a prevalent health problem in
Australia. Mostly, the problem has been affecting the indigenous population living in Australia,
the condition has been considered as being among the leading aspects that lead to hospitalization
in Australia. The condition is also described as a self-reported illness that occurs for a prolonged
period of time especially among the indigenous population. Research has shown that the
condition has been given little attention when compared to the other conditions affecting the
indigenous community. The prevalence of the condition has been confirmed to be higher when
compared to the larger indigenous population mainly affecting the adults. The reasons behind the
high prevalence among the indigenous population have not been concluded upon and mostly the
aspect has been based on speculations (Mulder, Kroneman, Franz, Vennema, Tulen, Takkinen &
HEVnet, 2019). The speculations include; the high exposure to tobacco among the indigenous
population, uncertainty when it comes to the disease among the indigenous population and also
the under treatment of the condition among this particular population (Benchimol, et al, 2015).
The diagnosis of the condition has been faced by a number of uncertainties and this has led to the
fact that data on the condition is mainly based on data that is supported by the self-reported type
of questionnaires. Most of the surveys conducted on the Torres Strait Islander and the
Aboriginals have not been confirmed via clinical examination. Most of the surveys conducted on
a sample population are assumed to represent the larger population of the indigenous individuals
living in this particular region (Benchimol, et al, 2015). Poor access to quality health care
services and the problem of smoking are some of the aspects that have led to the escalation of the
problem in this particular populace. The indigenous population has been described to engage in
smoking and the rate which the population smokes is considered as being high thus above the

CASE STUDY 3
normal rates. Additionally, the exposure to postnatal and intrauterine tobacco environments has
also played a huge role in the development of the illness amongst the populace. As per the 2008
findings, it is evident that the indigenous population has a prevalence rate of 16.5% above the
other Australian population. Additionally, statistics have also shown that the indigenous
population is twice as likely to contract the condition when compared to the other Australian
population. Additionally, 48.2 % population of indigenous individuals with asthma engage in
tobacco smoking. Furthermore, the indigenous population with asthma are likely to suffer from
conditions such as diabetes mellitus (Sherriff, et al, 2016).
Analysis of the social and environmental determinants
There are a number of social and environmental determinants that have led to an increase
in the prevalence of asthma amongst the indigenous population of Australian. From the
perspective, it is evident that the indigenous population is diverse and complex. The indigenous
population in Australia can be defined as the oldest civilization in the world and can be dated
back to fifty thousand years ago (Andersen, et al, 2016). The survival of the indigenous
population has been attributed to adapt to the changing climatic and weather conditions.
Improving the health standards of the indigenous Australian population has been a long term
objective of the government. There a noticeable margin between healthcare and the population at
large .Indigenous population lack access to basic healthcare needs. Health inequality in Australia
has resulted in a situation where the indigenous population is not able to access basic healthcare.
The aspect has led to a situation where the access to primary health care is limited and thus most
of the indigenous population is unable to access services (Garbin, Martins, Belila, Exaltação &
Garbin, 2019). One of the aspects that have led to the escalation of asthma amongst the
indigenous population is that this particular population is characterized as being poor thus unable

CASE STUDY 4
to acquire healthcare services. Additionally, socioeconomic disadvantages, racism, history, social
networks, and culture can be described as a number of aspects that limit the access of healthcare
services amongst this particular group of people. In the case, the indigenous population has a
desire to retain and maintain the traditional culture and thus they do not appreciate the new
healthcare services. Instead, the aspect has led to risky behaviors such as smoking when it comes
to their health (Benchimol, et al, 2015).
Description of Relevant Services
There are a number of services that can be rendered by the healthcare services in order to
ensure that the healthcare needs of the indigenous population are met especially when it comes to
the management of asthma amongst the population. To start with, the healthcare sector should
integrate healthcare services with the local communities to ensure that there is awareness of the
condition amongst the populace. Research on control methods should also put into consideration,
the community should be advised on the need to stop tobacco use. Accurate diagnosis of
respiratory-related conditions should also be put into emphasis in order to detect such conditions
early in advance thus avoiding deaths and other health risks associated with such conditions.
Clinical attention is also important as it will help in the detection of asthma during its early
stages (Weber, Walters, Frandsen, & Dharmage, 2018).
Critique of Services
The services provided to combat conditions such as asthma, are not equally distributed
among the populace of the Australian people. It is evident that there exists an inequality when it
comes to the dissemination of healthcare services. The reduction of such inequalities through
equal access to healthcare services will ensure that such conditions are well dealt with in

CASE STUDY 5
synchronization and coordination. Moreover, the integration of healthcare services with the
indigenous culture of the target population will help in the development of public awareness on
this particular matter of concern. Offering primary healthcare services to the target population
has not been considered (Weber, Walters, Frandsen & Dharmage, 2018). The provision of
primary healthcare services will allow early detection of such conditions and this will help in the
establishment of prevention objectives among other aspects such as the treatment of the
condition (Draeger, Akutsu, Zandonadi, da Silva, Botelho & Araújo, 2019).
Recommendation
The development of a safe and respectful primary healthcare will help ensure that the
Torres Strait Islander people and the Aboriginals are provided with adequate healthcare.
Therefore, developing a secure healthcare system for the target populace will help in the
protection, recognition and the advancement of the various inherent rights such as traditions and
culture are put into consideration when disseminating the healthcare services. The integration of
the indigenous healthcare professionals in promoting the fight against asthma will create a sense
of belonging and thus more people from the population will become aware of the condition
(Cabrera & Taylor, 2019).

CASE STUDY 6
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