Lecture 13: Indigenous health and context

Question 1

Why was there high mortality in early Pacific epidemics

Answer 1

High mortality due to epidemiological isolation
(they had no immunity to foreign diseases)

Question 2

What are the five kinds of seeing in traditional healers?

Answer 2

Physical seeing with the eyes;

seeing with the mind (eg, insight, foresight);

seeing the unseen or invisible (eg, spirits);

seeing a person walk by in a flash that no one else sees; and seeing in a dream.

seeing something (eg, the nature of an illness, the outcome of an event, the image or shadow of a person) through a medium, such as clear liquid in a container, a ritually treated leaf, or a stick used to stir lime in a lime container for betel nut chewing. - this kind of seeing is known to traditional healers

Question 3

What are the key points of Te Kāika (one stop health shop)?

Answer 3

Iwi-led initiative

Designed for Māori but open to all

Combination of different services in one site-> holistic approach to health

Question 4

Why were vaccination rates low which caused the Measles epidemic in Samoa in 2019?

Answer 4

Contributions to low vaccinations (31%):
* Past experiences to vaccinations
* Cultural norms
* Language barrier
* Low health literacy
* Poorly communicated incentive programmes