Impacts of Historical and Current Events for Health Issues

Question: Write about theImpacts of Historical and Current Events for Health Issues. Answer: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people groups are the principal tenants of Australia.. Formerly they were distinguished by their skin pigmentation or just aboriginal descent but that has been replaced by present-day definitions which are more inclusive. The Australian government today defines the Australian native as one who originates from an Aboriginal community, acknowledges him or herself as a native descent person and the community accepts him or her as one of them. (Fuary, 2016). During the colonization period, Australia was identified as a colony. The indigenous land was taken and become under control of British colonists and assumed that the land belonged to no one. The struggle between the natives and the colonists resulted in bloodshed which was one-sided leading to the drastic decrease in the Aboriginal population (Nayton, 2012). The number of native individuals who passed on during the white people settlement in Australia is estimated to range between 300,000 and 1 million. This figure increases considering the confrontation battles of the Aboriginal and the white settlers. Additionally, numerous Aboriginal populaces died of acquainted maladies which no protection was available to counter, for example, smallpox, flu and measles without forgetting arbitrary killings, inflicting punishment and organized mass killing (LoGiudice, 2016). Resulting to significant decrease of the Aboriginal population. The survivors were transferred from their land to reserves and missions denied education or studying from different schools. Some were assimilated into the broader population with the aim of eradicating the natives gradually and to ensure that they lose their identity. The circumstances surrounding the natives after the end of colonization period resulted in their exclusion from the mainstream Australian policies, specifically, the health policies. The records of health statistics and information show inequities between indigenous population of Australia and non-Indigenous Australians (Al-Yaman, 2017). At a populace level, Indigenous Australians encounter more prominent dreariness, mortality, and handicap over diverse situations and at each phase of living. For instance, elevated diabetes rate, kidney infections, poor eyesight, inappropriate and higher rate of hospital admission for cognitive health and deaths as a result of cardiovascular diseases just to mention a few, affect the Indigenous as compared to non-Indigenous individuals. ("Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, October 2010"). These inconsistencies are owing to the mind-boggling interaction of past events already highlighted and an extensive variety of biological, socio-cultural, political and economical determinants of health ("House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs: Press Release," 1989). As in numerous settings, these disparities is as a result for disdain and disappointment by ones whose well-being is highly influenced which is of worry to policymakers whose aim should be ensuring there is equality and fairness in the society. Similarly, the light way with which the health of Indigenous population is reported and handled is an indication of how vital health information is unclear on the non-Indigenous populace Another commonly used measure of social equity is life expectancy which is a concise measure of susceptibility to death. In Australia, the life expectancy for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders has been used determine the limitations of the Indigenous populace, ("Intellectual disability in Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," 2007) and has become a vital avenue for championing for Australian natives health. Life expectancy calculation relies on the reliable data indicating the size of the population and deaths by age and gender. With this in mind, there has been a concern about the reliability of the natives' information, especially on their deaths. This has led to unreliable methods of estimating Indigenous life expectancy (Rosenstock, Mukandi, Zwi, Hill, 2013) where late reports evaluated a life expectancy of 11.5 years for Aboriginal males and 9.7 years for Aboriginal females contrasted with non-Aboriginal Australians (Gwynne Lincoln, 2017). Another important indicator of a healthy community is nutrition. Nutrition contributes to infants' development; maternal wellbeing also, serves an essential determinant of the unending ailments that lessen Aboriginal life expectancy. Hence, enhancing nourishment is fundamental for advancing Aboriginal prosperity (Gibson et al, 2015). According to National Aboriginal Health Strategy (NAHS) which was started in 1989, poor nutrition and acquiring food were the main issues influencing Aboriginal well being (Wilson, 2016). The NAHS was recognized for reframing the Aboriginal wellbeing agenda and for its group inclusion and all-encompassing approach. However, most analyses concentrated on its absence of subsidizing and implementation. This was affirmed by the NAHS assessment, which revealed little confirmation of either procedure usage or change in Aboriginal wellbeing status (Smith, 2013). Due to inequality health service provision and health policies which are not inclusive, ailment burden in rural Aboriginal areas with respect to the general Australian population is evident. These diseases start at the neonatal stage. Statistics have indicated that the susceptibility to death of infants in indigenous communities is three times that of the non-indigenous populations (Harris Zwar, 2014). Albeit Australia is recognized as a developed country, health problems in Aboriginal communities are similar to those experienced in developing countries. Indigenous infants suffer from maladies which are rare in non-indigenous population due to improved facilities and health care providers including improved economic and living standards which decrease the burden of contagious and infectious diseases. For instance, skin infections which remain highly noticeable health problem in developing countries and among indigenous communities are the common reason for children presentations in rural clinics known as primary health care centers (Couzos, Delaney-Thiele, Page, 2016). Another malady in children which is rare in industrialized countries but alarmingly high in Aboriginal in Australia is middle ear disease also known as otitis media (Spurling, n.d ). The research shows very high rates which have not been registered in any other population in the world showing the sidelining of this indigenous community considering the country's medical advancements and strides it has made which is superior compared to most countries around the globe whose statistics on the disease is relatively low. On the issue of knowledge provision and creating awareness on hazardous lifestyle which can lead to detrimental health is minimal. Underweight infants with other health complications are born to Aboriginal women due to smoking. According to Kildea et al., (2017), 57.8% of Aboriginal women smoke during pregnancy whereas only 24.0% non-Aboriginal pregnant women smoke. Additionally, teenage girls have a pregnancy rate of more than twice as high as non-Aboriginal. Those with early pregnancies are likely to be single hence freely smoke during pregnancy. They are more likely to have few or none clinical visits before birth, are more likely to give birth in a country hospital or home in some circumstances hence susceptible to infections and anemia (Hure, Powers, Chojenta, Loxton, 2017). HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted disease are relatively high in the indigenous communities as compared to non-indigenous populace due to little or lack knowledge on how to use protective measures for p rotection. Further, remote communities in this case Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are disadvantaged by reduced access to health facilities and services known as primary health care centers (PHC) (Roberts, 2017). Considering that these remote communities are characterized by higher hospitalization rates higher prevalence of health risk factors compared with town settings where most non-Indigenous live, health policies and health service providers should be set in motion to bring to bring equity in this statistical discrepancies. Similarly, segregated remote areas which happen to be the homes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are limited to support traditional models of well-being provision locally. Hence, the residents are forced to acquire health care from metropolitan centers. Regrettably, it remains a problem for a higher number of residents of the Indigenous community to access the health services provided in larger centers (Carey, Wakerman, Humphreys, Buykx, Lindeman, 2013 ). The outcome when most fail to obtain this services when required is evident since the communities' mortality rate compared to the non-Indigenous population significantly differs where the former is high whereas the latter is relatively low. On the other hand, the communities in Australia which significantly differ culturally with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people are the non-Indigenous who are majorly the European. After their arrival in Australia in the 1600 and afterward treating the land as a colony, they suppressed any aggression from the natives This is viewed in different historical facts documented of how the suppressions were made. The resistance of the residents and the advancement of the colonizers led to the termination of many indigenous people, and the remaining were moved from their land to give way for white settlements. Unlike other colonial territories, on independence, the white settlers made the majority population ensuring that they made the government and came up with policies which only served them good neglecting the indigenous communities. As mentioned earlier, attempts were made to eradicate the identity of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people hence more evident that the policy Makers did not have their inclusion in mind. For any country to be considered industrialized and developed, health services, facilities, and policies must be sustainable accompanied by life expectancy and mortality rate ("Criteria and procedures for inclusion in and graduation from the least developed country category," 2015). Australia being a developed and industrialized country, the fact that health facility, infrastructure, services, and policies are sustainable and reliable is inevitable. This point which is undisputable has ensured that the health statistics of the Australians is impressively better comparing with many countries rated the same on the economic scale. For instance, the life expectancy of the Australians is averagely 82.45 years as per 2015. This is much higher than that of United States which is at 78.74 years, China at 75.99 years and Canada at 82.14 years all as per 2015 (OLIVER, n.d). This is a good sign that Australian citizens enjoy world-class health service and policies that better their living stand ards. Also, fundamental policies have been put in place by both private and government organizations to ensure the status quo is maintained or even higher results as far us health provision is concerned. In achieving this, Medicare has been formulated which funds health care system for every individual in Australia ("Health | australia.gov.au," n.d). Further departments such as state and territories have been put in place with fundamental responsibility for hospitals, communities, public health ambulances, oral health services and mental wellbeing programs. It also links the state and territory wellbeing data. Additionally, as stated earlier information and creating awareness is evident and well formulated hence the public is aware of specific lifestyle choices which will result in poor health and growth of a sickly community. This has ensured that most citizens living in urban settings have a better living standard as far as health factor is concerned. Albeit some still live in the neglec t of the knowledge already readily available on better lifestyles, most have adopted the recommended lifestyle of active life which involves exercising and wholesome nutrition which is crucial in the well of citizens. Conclusion Though one country with competent health providers, standard facilities, and holistic policies, there is a massive disparity between communities living therein. Historical events and policymakers have been the sole reason for having diverse communities living in the same region but with different advantages. Although several efforts and been put in place to close the gap as termed by many and to reduce the vivid difference, the wheel of equality is still slow in achieving a habitable and equitable society for all. The significantly minimal number of public health care centers should be added and well equipped to ensure the communities living in isolated regions access the facilities. Nutrition should be the priority since is the determinant of the well being of all individuals and lastly people living in marginal areas should be educated on how to live healthy to help them make informed choices for a better living References Al-Yaman,F. (2017). The Australian Burden of Disease Study: impact and causes of illness and death in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 2011. Public Health Research Practice, 27(4). doi:10.17061/phrp2741732 Carey,T.A., Wakerman,J., Humphreys,J.S., Buykx,P., Lindeman,M. (2013). What primary health care services should residents of rural and remote Australia be able to access? A systematic review of core primary health care services. BMC Health Services Research, 13(1). doi:10.1186/1472-6963-13-178 Couzos,S., Delaney-Thiele,D., Page,P. (2016). Primary Health Networks and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. The Medical Journal of Australia, 204(6), 234-237. doi:10.5694/mja15.00975 Criteria and procedures for inclusion in and graduation from the least developed country category. (2015). Handbook on the Least Developed Country Category, 1-20. doi:10.18356/0bc04cfd-en Fuary,M. (2016). Encounters With Indigeneity: Writing About Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples - By Jeremy Beckett. Oceania, 86(2), 208-209. doi:10.1002/ocea.5124 Gibson, O., Lisy, K., Davy, C., Aromataris, E., Kite, E., Lockwood, C., ... Brown, A. (2015). Enablers and barriers to the implementation of primary health care interventions for Indigenous people with chronic diseases: a systematic review.Implementation Science,10(1), 71. Gwynne,K., Lincoln,M. (2017). Developing the rural health workforce to improve Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes: a systematic review. Australian Health Review, 41(2), 234. doi:10.1071/ah15241 Harris,M.F., Zwar,N.A. (2014). Reflections on the history of general practice in Australia. The Medical Journal of Australia, 201(1), 37-40. doi:10.5694/mja14.00141 The health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, October 2010. (n.d.). PsycEXTRA Dataset. doi:10.1037/e677412012-001 Health | australia.gov.au. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/health House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs: Press Release. (1989). The Aboriginal Child at School, 17(05), 19. doi:10.1017/s0310582200007070 Hure,A., Powers,J., Chojenta,C., Loxton,D. (2017). Rates and Predictors of Caesarean Section for First and Second Births: A Prospective Cohort of Australian Women.Maternal and Child Health Journal,21(5), 1175-1184. doi:10.1007/s10995-016-2216-5 Intellectual disability in Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. (2007). Journal of Intellectual Developmental Disability, 32(3), 222-225. doi:10.1080/13668250701604800 Kildea,S.V., Gao,Y., Rolfe,M., Boyle,J., Tracy,S., Barclay,L.M. (2017). Risk factors for preterm, low birthweight and small for gestational age births among Aboriginal women from remote communities in Northern Australia. Women and Birth, 30(5), 398-405. doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2017.03.003 LoGiudice,D. (2016). The health of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 35(2), 82-85. doi:10.1111/ajag.12332 Nayton, G. M. (2012). The Archaeology of Market Capitalism: A western Australian Perspective (Doctoral dissertation, University of Western Australia) OLIVER,M.K. (n.d.). FOREWORD. How Long Have We Got?, v-vi. doi:10.2307/j.ctt1w6tbk0.2 Roberts,R. (2017). A health commission for regional, rural and remote Australia. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 25(2), 76-76. doi:10.1111/ajr.12356 Rosenstock,A., Mukandi,B., Zwi,A.B., Hill,P.S. (2013). Closing the Gaps: competing estimates of Indigenous Australian life expectancy in the scientific literature. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 37(4), 356-364. doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12084 Smith, L. T. (2013).Decolonizing methodologies: Research and indigenous peoples. Zed Books Ltd.. Spurling,G. (n.d.). Computerised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessments in primary health care research. doi:10.14264/uql.2017.902 Wilson, C. S. (2016). Cultural learning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people: Indigenous knowledges and perspectives in New South Wales school