In-depth Reflection: Health Issues Affecting Indigenous Populations

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the health issues affecting Indigenous populations, particularly focusing on the rising prevalence of diabetes within this community in Australia. It explores the various social determinants that significantly impact the health of Indigenous Australians, including education, healthcare access, economic stability, societal factors, and environmental influences. The report highlights the lifestyle changes, dietary habits, and genetic predispositions that contribute to the increased risk of diabetes. It also examines the interventions and government programs aimed at raising awareness, providing healthcare services, and promoting healthy behaviors among Indigenous communities. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the importance of understanding the complex interplay of factors contributing to health disparities and the necessity of tailored strategies to improve the health and well-being of Indigenous Australians, including healthy eating, regular medicine intake, and regular consultations with doctors. The report also references studies, journal articles, and online sources to support its findings and recommendations.

In-depth reflection on specific
health issue affecting
Indigenous populations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK...............................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Indigenous people represent diverseness of custom, language, tradition and along with
different cultural attributes (Huff and et. al., 2014). This was analysed that almost 370.5 million
indigenous persons spread in nearly 71 nations. In Australia, there are lots of aboriginal
individuals who are facing distinctive types of health issues, in this, Diabetes is much common
which is affecting their well being. This project is going to describe various social factors which
will cater impact to health of indigenous people. To reduce this, various kinds of programmes are
conducted by government in Australia.
TASK
Diabetes is a disease which is rapidly growing in Australia. This has been analysed that
indigenous people are affecting through this as comparison to general populace (Pietkiewicz and
Smith, 2014). This illness is increasing into individuals at early age in aboriginal persons. Thus,
complication risk is very higher from Diabetes. This will happen if insulin is doesn't created by
pancreas properly and in addition entire body immune to insulin. As a result, sugar level in blood
get higher. There are various types of difficulties get arise due to this, it will comprise high heart
attack risk, kidney and eye disease, problem related to erection, nerve damage and many others.
It has been identified that in Australia, numerous individuals are affecting because of
Diabetes. Basically, indigenous people are following tradition type of lifestyle but there are some
persons amongst them who are much impressed by the western culture (Ginsburg and et. al.,
2017). In this manner, they got addicted to those food items which contain less fibre and high
range of sugar, fat, smoke, alcohol. As aboriginal people are not less educated so that they do not
know about what is beneficial for their health and what is not. Therefore, this will promote some
troubles like diabetes, weight increase, heart problems, higher blood pressure and so forth.
According to the conducted research, this get determined that indigenous individuals who are
living according to western culture will have high obesity rate, fat, maximum insulin level and
many others. Henceforth, this will understood that if there is collaboration of unhealthy lifestyle
and in addition genetic predisposition then this is resulting to high rate of diabetes in aboriginal
Australians (Caxaj, 2015).
There are various type of social determinants which will provide impact to health of
indigenous people either in a direct or indirect manner. This will develop due to environment or
surrounding in which person born, work, live, play etc., it will provide impact to health and life
1

of individuals. Fundamentally there are some specific key area which will comprise into this,
such as education, health care, economical stability, society and environment (Prout and et. al.,
2014). These all elements will include numerous issues into them. If aboriginal individuals are
not having proper knowledge about health problems then, they will eat any thing and this will
raise food insecurity. As a result, circumstances of diabetes will get enhanced. If they do not job
then, this will lead to financial problems and their well being get influenced in high manner.
There is lots of inequalities in health issues due to various reasons, for instance difference
in lifestyles, social distinguish and so forth. According to the research, it has been found out that
there is approximately 17 years gap in expectancy of life amongst aboriginal and non –
aboriginal Australian (Smylie and Firestone, 2016).
Therefore, it is must for aboriginal diabetic individuals to take care of some things like
eat healthy food, avoid those eatables which contains maximum fat or sugar and so on. It is
essential for diabetic patients to take their medicines on time, as it aids them to maintain sugar
level normal. Along with, consult with doctor on regular basis (Ghai and Vivian, 2014).
(Source: Factors Influencing the Health Behaviour of Indigenous Australians: perspective from
support people, 2018)
2
Illustration 1: Factors Influencing the Health Behaviour of Indigenous Australians

According to Huff and et. al. (2014), almost 26% aboriginal Australian are suffering from
Diabetes in the year of 2016 and this number is six time higher as comparison overall population
of country. there are many sort of blood diseases will lead to Diabetes. On the other hand, there
are many social factors which will develop this sort of problem into indigenous individuals. It
will comprise overweight, high blood pressure, impaired glucose regulation, Dyslipidaemia and
so on. Impaired glucose regulation is considered a pre-diabetes characteristics and in this, blood
glucose level is higher as comparison to normal condition.
As indicated by Pietkiewicz and Smith (2014), nearly 85% of aboriginal children
between 2 to 15 years old are not having proper vegetables and fruits. Therefore, their health will
get impacted in huge manner. This has been evaluated that due to diabetes many sort of
complications will be face by patient, such as blindness.
Henceforth, this has been found out that Diabetes is increasing amongst indigenous
persons like some other diseases, such as cancer, heart problems and so on (Ginsburg and et. al.,
2017).
(Source: Cost associated with management of Type 2 Diabetes, 2011)
3
Illustration 2: Type 2 Diabetes

There are many types of interventions which are associated with Diabetes. It is required
to analyse family health profile because this disease will raise an individual due to some genetic
problem. Along with, to determine some more interventions, people will consult with nurses as
well as doctors (Caxaj, 2015).
To reduce the disease in an effective manner, it is essential to understand lifestyle
changes appropriately and evaluate blood glucose. If there is need to provide medicines then, it
has to be provided. Along with, it is required to evaluate diabetes complications effectually. On
the other hand, there are many kinds of rules and acts formulated by government to reduce health
issues amongst indigenous people (Prout and et. al., 2014). Various type of programmes were
conducted by regulatory body so that they will bring awareness of health into people. Along
with, they organise free health check up camps for aboriginal persons to maintain their well
being. If they are suffering from any disease then, medicines will be provided to them
accordingly. There are some strategies formulated by The South Australian Aboriginal Diabetes
to make people aware regarding this. On the other hand, there are some NGO's who are
providing health care services to individuals (Smylie and Firestone, 2016).
4

Apart from all of this, to prevent people from any kind of health issues, like Diabetes
labels are printed on products (Ghai and Vivian, 2014). For example: advertisement are doing so
that they will restrict children to eat junk food, implementation of labels on food products is
mandatory; thus, people will know about range of fat or other things into this, tax on sugar
sweetened carbonated beverages and many others. Along with, some requisite laws as well as
regulations are developed by regulatory body to prevent indigenous people from health
problems. Henceforth, this has been understood that Diabetes is foremost challenge for
aboriginal Australian (Huff and et. al., 2014).
CONCLUSION
From above assignment it has been identified that diabetes into indigenous people is
enhancing rapidly. This needs to get reduced and for this, many types of programmes will be
conducted by government. Along with this, it essential to cater them proper knowledge regarding
diseases. This is required for them to get education; therefore, they will know about what is good
for them or what is not. By obtaining requisite knowledge about food and other items, they will
use them. This has been analysed that, aboriginal people want to acquire western lifestyle but
they are not having proper idea about this. It will lead to various kinds of health issues amongst
them and Diabetes is considered as foremost.
5

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Caxaj, C. S., 2015. Indigenous storytelling and participatory action research: Allies toward
decolonization? Reflections from the peoples’ international health tribunal. Global
qualitative nursing research. 2. p.2333393615580764.
Ghai, D. and Vivian, J. M., 2014. Grassroots environmental action: people's participation in
sustainable development. Routledge.
Ginsburg, O. and et. al., 2017. The global burden of women’s cancers: a grand challenge in
global health. The Lancet. 389(10071). pp.847-860.
Huff, R. M. and et. al., 2014. Health promotion in multicultural populations: A handbook for
practitioners and students. SAGE publications.
Pietkiewicz, I. and Smith, J. A., 2014. A practical guide to using interpretative phenomenological
analysis in qualitative research psychology. Psychological Journal. 20(1). pp.7-14.
Prout, S. and et. al., 2014. ‘I could never have learned this in a lecture’: transformative learning
in rural health education. Advances in Health Sciences Education. 19(2). pp.147-159.
Smylie, J. and Firestone, M., 2016. The health of indigenous peoples. D. Raphael (3rd ed.)
Social determinants of health: Canadian perspective. pp.434-469.
Online:
Factors Influencing the Health Behaviour of Indigenous Australians: perspective from support
people. 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/figureid=10.1371/journal.pone.0142323.g001>.
Cost associated with management of Type 2 Diabetes. 2011. [Online]. Available through:
<http://msja.anu.edu.au/archive/issue/03/diabetes-and-ischaemic-heart-disease-in-
australia.php>.
6