Cultural barriers lead to inequitable healthcare access for aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders

Jie-Li Li
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引用次数: 21

Abstract

Aims

This article seeks to address some of the factors, particularly cultural barriers, contributing to inequity in healthcare service provisions for indigenous Australians. Furthermore, this article presents ways for healthcare professionals to take action on culture-related health equity issues. Finally, this article addresses what nurses can do to support more operational interventions and enhance the quality of services for indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders.

Background

Recently, scholarly literature in Australia has focused on the issue of ensuring equitable access to healthcare for aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, who are regarded as economically, socially, politically and culturally disadvantaged (Larkins et al, 2016; Lowell, 2013).1, 2 However, in spite of significant efforts on the part of the Australian government, scholars, policy makers and communities to provide fair and equitable healthcare, this challenging and longstanding issue remains unresolved and needs to be addressed immediately (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2015; Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2011).3, 4

Data sources

Using the Population, Intervention and Outcome framework, several databases (PUBMED, MEDLINE, and SCOPUS) and government web-based literature resources were searched to identify original research articles published from 2000 to 2016.

Discussion

Health inequity exists among aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, and the cultural barriers are vital factors in addressing aboriginals' health inequity. Healthcare professionals could be part of an effective solution for diminishing racial/ethnic disparities in healthcare. Different types of nurses could play different roles in addressing aboriginal cultural barriers among aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders.

Nurses are uniquely positioned to initiate and sustain contact with aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders in healthcare workplaces, as they can intervene at the points of greatest need in the community to address socially significant healthcare and social issues.

Conclusions

The different roles of nurses in providing health and social care interventions to aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders could be utilized to increase equity in access to healthcare and help aboriginals attain better levels of health.

文化障碍导致澳大利亚土著居民和托雷斯海峡岛民获得医疗保健的机会不公平
目的本文试图解决一些因素,特别是文化障碍,导致土著澳大利亚人在医疗保健服务提供方面的不平等。此外,本文还介绍了医疗保健专业人员在与文化相关的健康公平问题上采取行动的方法。最后,本文讨论了护士可以做些什么来支持更多的操作干预措施,并提高土著澳大利亚人和托雷斯海峡岛民的服务质量。最近,澳大利亚的学术文献集中在确保澳大利亚土著居民和托雷斯海峡岛民公平获得医疗保健的问题上,他们被认为在经济、社会、政治和文化上处于不利地位(Larkins等人,2016;洛厄尔,2013)。1,2然而,尽管澳大利亚政府、学者、决策者和社区为提供公平和公平的医疗保健作出了重大努力,但这一具有挑战性和长期存在的问题仍未得到解决,需要立即予以解决(澳大利亚卫生和福利研究所,2015年;澳大利亚统计局(ABS), 2011)。3,4数据来源使用人口、干预和结果框架,检索多个数据库(PUBMED、MEDLINE和SCOPUS)和政府网络文献资源,以确定2000年至2016年发表的原创研究文章。讨论澳大利亚土著居民和托雷斯海峡岛民之间存在着健康不平等,文化障碍是解决土著居民健康不平等的重要因素。医疗保健专业人员可以成为减少医疗保健中的种族/族裔差异的有效解决方案的一部分。不同类型的护士在解决澳大利亚土著居民和托雷斯海峡岛民的土著文化障碍方面可以发挥不同的作用。护士具有独特的地位,可以在保健工作场所发起和维持与澳大利亚土著居民和托雷斯海峡岛民的接触,因为她们可以在社区最需要的时候进行干预,以解决具有社会意义的保健和社会问题。结论护士在向澳大利亚土著居民和托雷斯海峡岛民提供保健和社会护理干预方面的不同角色可用于增加获得保健服务的公平性,帮助土著居民达到更好的健康水平。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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