Analysis of Health Disparities Among Indigenous Communities Globally

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This report provides an overview of healthcare disparities faced by Indigenous populations globally. It identifies key factors contributing to these disparities, including socioeconomic exclusion, lack of healthcare affordability, poor education, and cultural determinants. The report examines the impact of these disparities, such as higher mortality rates from both communicable and chronic diseases, and shorter life expectancies. It highlights the influence of social, economic, and political factors, emphasizing the importance of cultural safety, accessibility, and affordability in addressing these inequalities. The study references specific examples, such as the health situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, to illustrate the global nature of this issue. The report concludes that addressing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in accessing healthcare requires comprehensive strategies and policy changes.
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Health Disparities in Indigenous People
Introduction
Generally, healthcare disparities refer to showing the difference in healthcare services in
demographics, aboriginal, or groups based on social, economic, and political fronts. Healthcare
disparities commonly found among race or ethnicity, current socio-economical status, geographical
location, age, gender, etc., Healthcare service of the nation or location is highly essential, and it is
the birthright of every individual. Healthcare disparities should be eradicated to enhance the quality
of gains to the nations. Reduce health disparities is important when the population of the nation
filled with a diversified crowd. This study would be an eye-opener statistical survey on Healthcare
Disparities on Indigenous people across the globe and its remedial measures
Indigenous Healthcare Disparities
Indigenous people of concern nation are facing healthcare disparities due to numerous reasons.
Indigenous healthcare disparities or inequality are more when compared to Non-Indigenous people
of the nations. The most common reason for healthcare disparities are listed below: (Evans, Shim,
& Ioannidis, 2014).
a. Social-economic exclusion
b. Unemployment
c. Lack of healthcare affordability
d. Lower-income of the indigenous community
e. Poor and lack of education
f. Generations of neglect
g. Poor cohesive public policy
h. People reside in rural or geo-specific reasons
i. Poor healthcare rights recognition of Indigenous population
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j. Social and cultural determinants of healthcare services among indigenous
The factors mentioned above considered and validated as prime causes of health care inequality of
the Indigenous community of the nation (Alford et al. 2013).
Impact of Indigenous Healthcare Disparities
Every nation needs to protect the Indigenous people and their generation. Healthcare inequality
causes a higher mortality rate when a communicable disease such as Corona Viral infections, flu,
and contagious respiratory diseases. The most recent research on health disparities in admittance to
treatment occurs most common conditions like cancer, cardiovascular and Kidney diseases in
developed nations called Australia, USA, Canada, and some colonized nations (Paradies, 2016).
Lack of medical attention on cardiovascular diseases in Australia recorded a hospital mortality rate
of 40% as an average value. Such healthcare inequality among the Indigenous and Non-Indigenous
population cause to affect the productivity of the nation. The major impact of healthcare inequality
causes the shorter life expectancy of indigenous people. It increases the rate of infant mortality and
poor health among the indigenous people due to health inequality (Sparke, & Anguelov, 2012).
Factors Influence Health Disparities
Many factors are influencing healthcare disparities or inequality. Social, political and economical
factors are the major causative factors of the health disparities globally. Health inequality majorly
affects the indigenous people of the country. Social factors are the major contributors to the health
disparities which include the income of an individual and family, awareness and edification, social
surroundings, and employment opportunities (Chen, & Miller, 2013). Health care cost is the factor
that is directly related to the social factor. The affordability of health care is determined by social
factors. Indigenous people living the remote places are unable to access health care facilities due to
transportation issues.
The basic needs for a human begin to lead a healthy life are a balanced diet, proper housing, and a
hygienic environment. Many indigenous communities of the world lack the basic need for a healthy
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life which leads to various chronic diseases. Economical factors like socioeconomic background
and accessibility of health care need significantly affects the health support for the indigenous
people (Diez Roux, 2012). Cultural believes, and myths are the cultural factors that influence the
health care need for the indigenous community.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are the indigenous people of Australia. The country has
implemented various health policies and plans specifically for the indigenous people. Despite health
policies and plans, the indigenous community is affected by health disparities. In Australia,
Indigenous people are the most affected community when compared to non-indigenous people
(Durey, & Thompson, 2012). The prevalence of the health issue confirms that the indigenous
people are affected by various communicable and non-communicable diseases and die at the early
stages of life. These happenings may lead to the loss of the indigenous people of the country
(Donato, & Segal, 2013).
Conclusion
Generally, indigenous people are affected by chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, hypertension,
stroke, cardiac disease, and communicable diseases. Incidence report proves that the mortality and
morbidity are high among the indigenous people. Generally, accessible health care support like
vaccination, health awareness, and provision of health care services at an affordable price and free
in some cases. Critical analysis of the issue shows that the primary cause for health inequality is the
gap between the indigenous people and non-indigenous community. Impaired accessibility of health
care may affect the productivity of the country. Cultural safety, accessibility and affordability are
the factors aids in filling the gap between indigenous people and non-indigenous people in
accessing health care.
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References
Alford, V. M., Remedios, L. J., Webb, G. R., & Ewen, S. (2013). The use of the international
classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF) in indigenous healthcare: a
systematic literature review. International journal for equity in health, 12(1), 32
https://equityhealthj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-9276-12-32
Chen, E., & Miller, G. E. (2013). Socioeconomic status and health: mediating and moderating
factors. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 9, 723-749
https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050212-185634
Durey, A., & Thompson, S. C. (2012). Reducing the health disparities of Indigenous Australians:
time to change focus. BMC health services research, 12(1), 151
https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6963-12-151
Donato, R., & Segal, L. (2013). Does Australia have the appropriate health reform agenda to close
the gap in Indigenous health?. Australian Health Review, 37(2), 232-238
https://www.publish.csiro.au/AH/ah12186
Diez Roux, A. V. (2012). Conceptual approaches to the study of health disparities. Annual review of
public health, 33, 41-58 https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-
publhealth-031811-124534
Evans, J. A., Shim, J. M., & Ioannidis, J. P. (2014). Attention to local health burden and the global
disparity of health research. PloS one, 9(4)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3972174/
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Paradies, Y. (2016). Colonisation, racism and indigenous health. Journal of Population
Research, 33(1), 83-96 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12546-016-9159-y
Sparke, M., & Anguelov, D. (2012). H1N1, globalization and the epidemiology of
inequality. Health & place, 18(4), 726-736
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1353829211001626
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