Indigenous Health Flashcards
In the beginning
- The Australian Indigenous people
have the longest continuing culture of any people in history. - Estimates range between 80,000 and 120,000 years.
- At the time of European invasion/settlement Aboriginal
health was better than most Europeans.
Pre-invasion indigenous lifestyle
- Multiple groups (tribes, nations) and languages
- No permanent dwellings
- Neolithic
- Spiritual, emotional and physical connection to the land
Impact of settlement
From 1788 to 1900 the ATSI population was reduced by 90%
1788 – 1830’s
Infectious disease, genocide
1830 – 1930’s
Loss of land and lifestyle, confined to missions (disease)
1930 – 1960’s
Forced assimilation, stolen generations
1960’s – now
Poor health resulting from political, economic, environmental, individual and social determinants
Stolen generation
- Destruction of culture, community and family
- Long term and intergenerational trauma
The Empty land
In 1971 a High Court Judge ruled that prior to
1788 Australia was “terra nullius” (the land was uninhabited)
* This meant that Indigenous people essentially did not exist
* Indigenous people were not classed as Australian citizens until 1967
ATSI people
- Have a lower life expectancy
- Have higher rates of disability and burden of disease
- May have lower education rates
- May have low socioeconomic status
- More likely to live in rural and remote areas than Non-Indigenous people
- Have less access to health and welfare services
National Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisation
The underlying causes of poor Indigenous health can be attributed to: social and economic exclusion, unemployment, low income, poor housing and sanitation, poor education, and lack of adequate nutrition.
National Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisation cont.
- Despite suffering from much worse health than other Australians, indigenous people generally have much less access to health care services…
- Historically, Indigenous people have had little power to influence these factors and the public policy decisions that affect their lives and health.
Infant mortality
- Indigenous children 0 – 4 years twice the rate of non-Indigenous children
- In the Northern Territory Indigenous children 0 – 4 years four times the rate of non-Indigenous children
Life expectancy
Indigenous males 71.6 years
Non-Indigenous males 80.2 years
Indigenous females 75.6 years
Non-Indigenous females 84.3 years
Burden of disease
- Indigenous Australians experience a burden of disease that is 2.3 times the rate of non-Indigenous Australians
- 67% of Indigenous Australians reported at least one current long-term (chronic) health condition
Determinant of Health - Smoking
43% ATSI are current smokers (reduced from 51% in 2001)
50% remote areas versus 39% in non-remote areas
43% of ATSI pregnant women smoke compared to 12% NI
Smoking related illness and deaths
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in ATSI people
Death from respiratory system cancer is 2.6 times higher in ATSI than NI people. Cardiovascular disease 1.2 times higher in ATSI than NI people
External causes
Death from suicide is double the rate for ATSI compared to NI males.
Death from transport accidents is double the rate for ATSI compared to NI males.
Death due to assaults is:
* 7 times higher for ATSI males than NI males
* 8 times higher for ATSI females than NI females
Violence in ATSI communities
The relatively high rates of violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities [are related to] deeper underlying causes including ‘intergenerational trauma’ resulting from the ongoing and cumulative effects of colonisation, loss of land, language and culture, the erosion of cultural and spiritual identity, forced removal of children, and racism and discrimination.
