Indigenous Health Case Study: Rheumatic Heart Disease in Arnhem Land

This case study examines rheumatic heart disease within the Indigenous Australian population, particularly focusing on the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land. It highlights the epidemiology of the disease, noting the disproportionately high rates among Indigenous individuals and the social inequalities contributing to its prevalence. The study discusses prevention strategies, including antibiotic therapy, and the barriers patients face, such as stigma and discrimination. It also emphasizes the importance of cultural safety in healthcare, particularly when patients like Mae are displaced from their communities. The study concludes by underscoring the need for collaboration among healthcare providers and communities to deliver quality care and improve health outcomes for Indigenous individuals affected by rheumatic heart disease. Desklib offers a range of study tools and resources for students.

INDIGENOUS HEALTH

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................3
Epidemiology of Rheumatic heart disease.............................................................................3
Prevention and barrier experienced by patient.......................................................................4
Cultural safety........................................................................................................................4
Collaborating for safe and quality care .................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
The indigenous health is defined as the physical, cultural, social and emotional well-
being of people who is usually associated from the region of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people.
As per this, there are number of population who is living the aboriginal and Torres strait islander
face various issue due the lack of resources which is related with poorer health. As per this, they
are facing issue with various disease which may be associated with mental health and some time
this is become chronic issue such as respiratory, cardiovascular and diabetes and so on. With this
report, a case study is evaluated which is based on the cardiovascular disease. In this, discussion
is made on the epidemiology, prevention and cultural safety. Moreover, the collaboration for safe
and quality care (Carroll and et. al., 2020).
MAIN BODY
Epidemiology of Rheumatic heart disease
Rheumatic heart disease which is usually caused due to the damage of heart valves as a
result which is more than others disease. This is usually affect the heart value and become more
scarred and stiffer which obstruct the flow of blood which can fail close properly, causing blood
to follow of backwards in heart instead of forwards around the body and organ. As per this,
damage from the rheumatic heart disease can create the condition of heart failure and stroke or
even death. As at December 31, there were 5, 385 people who is dealing with heart disease are
recorded (Currie and et. al., 2018). Moreover, nearly 3 in 10 were age group of 25, in this, 2 in 3
were female, that show greatest northern territory 2308 and 4 in 5 is diagnosed 4337, 81 percent
among the indigenous people. In 2015 to 2019, 399 which is reported for people who is
completely listed. There is 287 people who were nearly 72 percent. The median age of the death
was 52 percent for indigenous males and 53 years of indigenous female when it is compared with
the 72 year of male and 71 year of non indigenous female. As per this, due to the poor access of
health and their diagnosis is main cause which can accelerated the health consequence with Mae.
Moreover, it is also analyse that the major people faces social inequalities who is living in such
place which have lack of resource and lack of health facilities can generate risk of heart disease
with Mae (Sanderson and et. al., 2020).

Prevention and barrier experienced by patient
As per the condition of Mae, it is identified that the prevention from heart disease which
is show the aspect of antibiotic therapy which is sharply reduced the incidence and mortality rate
of rheumatic fever/heart disease. In order to reduce the inflammation some of steroid and non
steroid medication is prescribed which help to control and prevent situation which may create the
complication with Mae. Moreover, the antibiotic treatment that is most effective in preventing
further with the help of infection is benzathine, penicillin G which is given by intramuscular
injection every 3-4 week over for the many year. In this, some of the barrier which is observed
while studying the case study, stigma and discrimination which enable the various condition
which may trigger the health inequalities. As per this, the stigma and discrimination is main
factor which generally affect the quality of health in aboriginal and Torres strait islander (Davies
and et. al., 2021).
Cultural safety
As per this, when Mae is travelled from one place to another such as Adelaide so far off country
and being away from her family and community (Merone and et. al., 2020). Mae completely
away from the social group and their community and this social difference and cultural
difference can create the factor which used to develop cultural imbalance which is associated
with the Mae as per the cultural deviation which is impact and create the major complication
such as priorities and discrimination. While taking the admission in the hospital Mae always
create assumption and facing some of stigma related issue which initiate some of thought process
which show advocacy and barrier due the change is region and communities, cultural factor are
appear and surety with cultural influence is completely loss (de León-Martínez and et. al., 2020).
Collaborating for safe and quality care
In addition to this, it is identified that the health providers in Yirrkala collaborate with
different communities in order to provide quality of health to Mae. In this, they focus on
productive aspect of communities which is associated with Mae in order to deliver quality of
health and quality of care (Farah Nasir and et. al., 2021). This is happen due the proper
communication and coordination which play important role in building of good relationship.
Moreover, Mae dealing with critical issue with some of the disease and she take medication on
the regular basis. She is belong from the indigenous group which have lack of health facilities
and this is only due the low educational factor, in this, she need quality of care and quality of

health, so, healthcare staff properly communicate and interact with other communities in order to
get information and create action plan to develop some of medication and drug based
combination which help to provide care and also, improving the life (Ekinci and et. al., 2021).
CONCLUSION
As per the above discussion, it is analyse that the condition is well associated with heart
disease which is based in region of aboriginal and Torres strait islander. They faces and dealing
with poor access of health and education. As per this, case study is based on individual who is
dealing with rheumatic heart disease and she need proper treatment, where healthcare
professional play role in order to improve the life by communicating with other and communities
for patient and for their health recovery.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Carroll and et. al., 2020. The CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance.
Currie and et. al., 2018. Building foundations for indigenous cultural competence: an institution's
journey toward “Closing the Gap”. Journal of medical imaging and radiation
sciences, 49(1), pp.6-10.
Davies and et. al., 2021. Cancer care disparities among Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand
Indigenous peoples. Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care, 15(3), pp.162-
168.
de León-Martínez and et. al., 2020. Critical review of social, environmental and health risk
factors in the Mexican indigenous population and their capacity to respond to the
COVID-19. Science of The Total Environment, 733, p.139357.
Ekinci and et. al., 2021. Feasibility of once weekly exenatide‐LAR and enhanced diabetes care in
Indigenous Australians with type 2 diabetes.(Long‐acting‐Once‐Weekly‐Exenatide laR‐
SUGAR,“Lower SUGAR” study). Internal Medicine Journal.
Farah Nasir and et. al., 2021. A community‐led design for an Indigenous Model of Mental
Health Care for Indigenous people with depressive disorders. Australian and New
Zealand Journal of Public Health.
Merone and et. al., 2020. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in minority Indigenous
populations: a systematic review. Heart, Lung and Circulation, 29(9), pp.1278-1291.
Sanderson and et. al., 2020. Indigenous Land-Based Experiential Learning in Nursing
Education. Journal of Nursing Education, 59(12), pp.721-721.