Nursing Assignment: Addressing Diabetes in Indigenous Populations

This nursing assignment examines the prevalence of diabetes in Australia, highlighting the disproportionate impact on the indigenous population. It explores the health disparities caused by factors such as poor diet, lack of primary healthcare services, and socioeconomic challenges. The assignment discusses the need for primary healthcare interventions, including community healthcare facilities, to address these disparities and improve health outcomes. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of cultural knowledge and sensitivity in healthcare settings to build trust, improve patient adherence to treatment, and facilitate open communication. The assignment references relevant research and provides insights into effective strategies for managing diabetes and improving healthcare for indigenous Australians.

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Name of the student:
Name of the individual:
Author note:

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NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Question 1:
According to AIHW (2019), diabetes is one of the fastest-growing illnesses in Australia.
The indigenous population of Australia is considered have higher risk of getting infected with
type 2 diabetes as equated to other non-indigenous population. Hence, from the data it can be
stated that there is a breach amongst the aboriginal people and the non-indigenous inhabitants of
Australia. The two dissimilar explanations for the health inequity amongst the indigenous and
non-indigenous population are poor diet and absence of primary healthcare service.
The unemployment rate in the aboriginal individual is high than that of the non-
indigenous population, due to which they have to rely more on hunting and fishing and hence are
more exposed to food which comprises high calorie, carbohydrate and fat, which leads to obesity
and obesity, is the risk factor of diabetes. Other difference is the lack of primary healthcare
service, due to which they are not able to get appropriate healthcare thereby increasing the
prevalence rate of diabetes (Crowshoe et al. 2019).
Question 2:
To decrease the adverse impact of type 2 diabetes in indigenous population, primary
healthcare intrusion is required. One of the primary healthcare interventions for the Australian
aboriginal population that can be used to close the gap is the availability of the primary
healthcare services. In the case of Australian indigenous population, health care facilities are not
available readily, due to which they are less aware of the risks factor, prevention and treatment of
diabetes (Haynes et al. 2016). Primary healthcare services made available to the indigenous
population by the implementation of the community healthcare facilities

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NURSING ASSIGNMENT
According to Hernández et al. (2017), the high prevalence rate of chronic mental and
physical illness among the indigenous is due to the health inequity. With the help of community
healthcare facilities, they will be able to get primary healthcare services which tend to lessen the
health inequity among the aboriginal population and the non –indigenous population.
Question 3:
Cultural knowledge and sensitivity in healthcare are essential as it aids in maintaining an
adequate relation between the healthcare staff and the patient. The Aboriginal individual is more
sensitive and vulnerable to any mental and physical illness, hence to provide safe care to the
patient, it is essential to uphold cultural sensitivity in the wellbeing care setting. Cultural
knowledge and tenderness in the healthcare aim to improve the health consequences of the
patient by increasing the adherence to the treatment. The cultural sensitivity helps the patient to
feel comfortable by gaining the trust of the healthcare staff. If the cultural knowledge and
responsiveness are increased in the health care, the admittance to the primary healthcare will also
double as the patient can comfortably share their views and concern, without having a fear of
getting judged (Cai et al. 2016).
For example, in the case of diabetes, the lifestyle of the indigenous population is
considered as one of the significant risk factors. Hence by maintaining cultural sensitivity in the
healthcare setting, they can comfortably share their lifestyle and habits without feeling
uncomfortable.

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NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Reference:
AIHW (2019). Diabetes, How many Australians have diabetes? - Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare. [online] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Available at:
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/diabetes/diabetes-snapshot/contents/how-many-australians-
have-diabetes [Accessed 8 Sep. 2019].Cai, D. Y. (2016). A concept analysis of cultural
competence. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 3(3), 268-273.
Cai, D.Y., 2016. A concept analysis of cultural competence. International Journal of Nursing
Sciences, 3(3), pp.268-273.
Crowshoe, L., Dannenbaum, D., Green, M., Henderson, R., Hayward, M.N. and Toth, E., 2018.
Type 2 diabetes and Indigenous peoples. Canadian journal of diabetes, 42, pp.S296-S306.
Haynes, A., Kalic, R., Cooper, M., Hewitt, J.K. and Davis, E.A., 2016. Increasing incidence of
type 2 diabetes in Indigenous and non-Indigenous children in Western Australia, 1990–2012. The
Medical Journal of Australia, 204(8), p.303.
Hernández, A., Ruano, A.L., Marchal, B., San Sebastián, M. and Flores, W., 2017. Engaging
with complexity to improve the health of indigenous people: a call for the use of systems
thinking to tackle health inequity. International journal for equity in health, 16(1), p.26.