Health Report: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' Culture

This report critically reflects on the factors that have shaped perspectives on the culture and health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It examines the implications of socio-historical-political contexts on contemporary health issues within the community, including asthma, diabetes, and cancer, and the impact of factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, and poor nutrition. The report emphasizes the influence of social and cultural factors, such as family values, education, and personal experiences, on health beliefs, experiences, and outcomes. It concludes by highlighting the need for improved education and governmental support to address these health disparities and improve the well-being of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The report references various academic sources to support its findings.

Critically reflect on the
factors which have shaped
your views of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples’ culture and
health

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Implications of socio-historical-political context for contemporary health related issues of the
Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people........................................................3
Social and cultural factors shape the health beliefs, experiences and outcomes of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islanders......................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5
2

INTRODUCTION
The cultural and social factors impacts on health of people because people make decision of their
lives by considering socio- cultural components. It includes few of wrong superstitions and
cultural beliefs which may impacts severely on health of an individual (Sonfield, Hasstedt and
Gold, 2014). The present report is based on health of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people including effects of socio- historical- political context. It will also focus on social
and cultural factors including health beliefs, experiences and outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islanders.
MAIN BODY
Implications of socio-historical-political context for contemporary health related issues of the
Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
In context of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, there are several
contemporary health issues including asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease and
several types of cancers. However, these problems are responsible for reducing health status of
people of Torres Strait Island community. In addition to this, the socio- historical and political
factors impacts on behavioural aspects which facilitate the creation of several crucial health
problems in individual belongs to this community in Australia. Health problems found in these
people is necessary to be reduced by effective programs and approach of business. Moreover,
they have habit of smoking ad intake alcohol which is harmful of taken in excess amount which
increase risk if severe health problems in this community. Meanwhile, they also have problem of
poor nutrition and physical inactivity which reduce their fitness of body and results into a health
issues accordingly.
At the other hand, it has been analysed that due to poor housing system in terms of having some
specific difficulties for people belongs to Torres Strait Island community impacts negatively on
their health condition. Meanwhile, the history of colonisation and relationship with indigenous
people to their land add to the significance of housing as a determinant of health for them (Rees,
3

2016). It is observed that relatively high proportion of indigenous people prefer to live outside in
major cities or towns because small communities make issues for them. Considering overall
scenario of people belongs to Torres Strait Island community, I believe that government should
focus on actual problem of poor housing, historical colonisation and other aspects in order to
improve their living of standards in order to boost up health of people linked with the given
community. It is necessary to make people learn to remain impartial with people and help each
other to overcome with health issues and other problems to gain better health and life.
Social and cultural factors shape the health beliefs, experiences and outcomes of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islanders
There are various social and cultural beliefs and experiences of people which impacts deeply
on their mind set due to which they attempt things in their lives. It consist several related
components which are responsible to shape health beliefs, experiences and outcomes of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in which few of them are described here. Initially, the very
important factor is family values & attitudes which provide support to an individual to learn
ethical norms for making decision regarding their health. A person observe activities and things
happen in family by their parents and make perception to follow them which impacts on their
health relevant decisions. However, social education is helpful to people for learning about their
social responsibilities like helping others but at the same time they learn to remain careful from
strangers as they can stole something from you or harm (Rodney and Mulligan, 2014).
In addition to this, personal experiences help an individual to make right decision about
their attempts which save them from health problems. For example, an individual first prefer
home remedies but it did not work then second time of illness facilitate people to immediately
consult with physician and never try anything at home, hence, it is favourable to improve health.
Furthermore, mass media is responsible to cover a large population in one stroke then they are
helpful to improve beliefs and perceptions of people which are helpful to improve health status
of whole Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Considering above information, I believe that
better education about health and related aspects should be provide to people of this community
who change their mind sets and helps to solve problems of contemporary health issues.
4

CONCLUSION
The above report concluded that social and cultural factors impacts on behaviour and
perceptions of an individual which should be changed for improving health of selected
community. It includes providing correct social education and government should improve
thinking of people for better health of people belongs to given community.
REFERENCES
Books and journals
Sonfield, A., Hasstedt, K., & Gold, R. B. (2014). Moving forward: Family planning in the era of
health reform.
Rees, N. (2016). Clear the air for children: the impact of air pollution on children.
Rodney, N. C., & Mulligan, C. J. (2014). A biocultural study of the effects of maternal stress on
mother and newborn health in the D emocratic R epublic of C ongo. American journal
of physical anthropology, 155(2), 200-209.
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