NUR3101: Evaluating Australia's Diabetes Primary Health Care Strategy

This report examines Australia's National Primary Health Care Strategic Framework, focusing on its strategy for addressing diabetes mellitus. It explores the social determinants of health, including equity and social justice, and their impact on diabetes prevalence, particularly within vulnerable populations. The report analyzes epidemiological data related to diabetes in Australia, highlighting the disproportionate impact on Indigenous Australians, those with low socioeconomic status, and those in remote areas. It evaluates the chosen strategy in the context of the WHO's five key principles of primary health care, emphasizing accessibility and equity. Furthermore, the report discusses the significance of the strategy for nursing practice, particularly in health promotion, community engagement, and addressing social barriers to care. The report concludes that the strategic framework aligns with WHO principles and emphasizes the critical role of nursing in implementing the strategy and improving health outcomes for those at risk of diabetes.

Running head: NURSING PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT
Nursing Primary Health care in a global Context
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Table of Contents
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Introduction
Primary health care is a healthcare approach developed on the basis of the
requirement of a population. The main concept of primary health care includes the health care
related needs of an individual throughout the life (Gomersall et al., 2017). In Australia, there
are several primary health issues which are required to be reduced. This report describes
about the involvement of National primary health care strategic frame work to reduce the
primary health issues. The discussion part highlighted the involvement of equity, social
justice and epidemiological factors related to the health issue and how the strategic outcome
can address these issues. The report is also supported by the published literature collected
from Google Scholar and PubMed.
Primary Health Issue and Strategy
Department of Health, Australian Government (2019), mentioned about several
primary health issues in Australia. Among those, this report focuses on the Diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes mellitus is a health condition characterized by higher sugar level. The selected
strategy to reduce this health issue comes as Strategic Outcome 3 n National primary
healthcare strategic frame work. The strategic outcome is focusing on taking action to
overcome social determinants of health and wellbeing by implementing health promotion,
prevention, screening and early intervention. According to several literatures there are several
social detreminants related to diabetes which need to be reduced. Therefore the overall
situation of diabetes mellitus can be reduced.
Social determinants: Equity and Social Justice
Social determinants can influence the health condition of a population. There are
several social determinants which influences the inequity in health of a particular society.

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These determinants include, education, economic condition, health literacy, geographical
conditions etc . Several studies reported that, due to these factors the health care approach
reaches only a specific portion of a whole population (Adler, Glymour & Fielding, 2016).
Therefore, and health inequity can be occurred (Adler, Glymour & Fielding, 2016). The
strategic outcome 3 involves in identifying the alternatives to address social determinants
(Department of Health, Australian Government, 2019). Apart from that it also targets the risk
factors related to the problem followed by research and evaluation of novel approach to
provide treatment and health promotion. Therefore it is understood from the framework
strategy that it can involve in maintaining social equity. According to several studies lack of
education and health literacy are significant factor behind poor health condition. Especially,
in case of economically poor people this kind of health condition is severe comparative to the
population with economic stability Brunello et al., 2016). According to WHO (2019), one
major principle of primary health care is to ensure availability of health care to every
individual irrespective of his/her personal or cultural background. This principle supports
social justice, as it addressed all the populations irrespective of their social cultural or
personal aspects. The strategic outcome 3 from the primary health care framework, follows
this principle as it targets the social determinants and involve in overcoming those factors so
that social justice towards the population can be maintained (Department of Health,
Australian Government, 2019).
Epidemiology of Diabetes and Strategic Outcome 3
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2019), highlighted several factors relating
to diabetes which suggested that around 1.2 million Australian citizen was diagnosed with
diabetes during the year 2014-15. During this time the around 16400 cases of death due to
diabetes was reported. The report also highlighted the fact that prevalence of diabetes in
remote areas is greater than the Major cities in Australia. Moreover, people with poor

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economic conditions are mostly affected due to diabetes. Diabetes is also prevalent in
Indigenous Australians rather than the known indigenous Australians. Therefore, the
epidemiological data of diabetes clearly indicates that populations with low economic
standard, indigenous Australians and those who lived in remote areas, are mostly affected by
diabetes. Strategic outcome 3 aims to reduce the social barriers to provide health services.
Therefore this strategic outcome will be helpful to avoid diabetes related complications.
WHO standards and Strategic outcome
World Health Organizations made specific principles of primary health care which
supports the equal distribution of health care services in society. It is clearly understood from
the epidemiological data, that in Australia, mostly people from low social and economic
conditions are suffering from diabetes. According to the principles (WHO, 2019), the primary
health care approach should be accessible to everybody. Several studies reported that, people
from lower economic background often avoid hospitals due to expensive treatment. The
mentioned strategy aims to involve several strategies to provide adequate treatment to all the
patients. Apart from that this framework also involves in developing new technologies which
can be efficient enough to provide treatment. WHO (2019), mentioned the development of
technology as a principle of Primary Health Care.
Strategic Outcome 3 and Nursing Practice
The involvement of nurses in implementation of strategic outcome 3 will is essential.
The involvement of nursing is required to promote health in these situations. Different studies
reported that, the indigenous Australians have a habit of drinking and smoking in high
amounts which leads to diabetes. Apart from that, some studies highlighted that unhealthy
diet and unawareness of diabetes is also a major reason behind the province of diabetes
among the indigenous people of Australia (Islam et al., 2018). Therefore, health promotion is

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important this case. Several literatures reported that, health promotion by people from same
cultural group effects accelerates the promotion process. Therefore, it is important to involve
the nurses from aboriginal backgrounds to involve in promotion (Henderson, et al., 2018).
Apart from that, the in case of rural areas, availability of treatment is challenging. In that
case, involvement of Government and community is required to provide health care (WHO,
2019). The strategic outcome 3 involves in understanding the social determinants and focuses
on overcoming the situation. Therefore, health promotion in regional areas are possible with
the help of government and community services (Mullens, Duyker & Lemoire, 2016). The
government can provide health camps so that the people in rural area can have regular health
checkups. In case of providing care to the people who are having poor economic status,
inexpensive technology is required along with free health checkup camps and health
promotion camps (Mullens, Duyker & Lemoire, 2016).. The strategic outcome 3 involves in
addressing these issues, therefore, it can promote diabetes related care by understanding the
social determinants and taking actions accordingly.
Conclusion
The strategic outcome 3 from the National Primary Health Care framework, follwos
all the principle provided by WHO. Diabetes is a vital problem which is prevalent in specific
populations due to social determinants. The framework can involve in understanding the
challenges and overcoming those challenges to promote health in different part of the society.
Nursing practice plays an important role to overcome the social determinants and
implementation of the framework, which will further provide adequate care to those
populations where diabetes prevalence is high.

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Reference
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