Why closing the Aboriginal health gap is so elusive

Abstract

A wide gap persists between the health of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians despite a recent Federal government commitment to close the gap by 2030. The complex underlying factors include socioeconomic and environmental disadvantage, inadequate education, underemployment, racial prejudice, high-risk health-related behaviours and limited access to clinical services and health promotion programmes. Over recent decades some aspects of Aboriginal health have deteriorated badly, largely from a surge in chronic 'lifestyle' diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular and kidney disorders plus the effects of tobacco smoking, alcohol and drug abuse and high rates of violence and trauma. To correct these inequities will require improving many social and environmental factors. These include education, living conditions, vocational training, employment, closer cooperation between government and non-government agencies, access to affordable and nutritious fresh food, with better access to high-quality medical treatment, health promotion and disease prevention programmes. Indigenous people must be encouraged to become more involved in activities to improve their health and have more responsibility for the decision-making processes this will entail. Governments must support these changes to help close the Aboriginal health gap.

Changing mortality patterns in Kimberley Aborigines

“…This seems particularly so for renal disease; 90% of deaths due to kidney failure in the West Kimberley during the study period were among Aboriginal people. Reducing mortality rates could help to close the Aboriginal health gap, which has proved to be so elusive over recent decades …”

Sleep Disorders in Indigenous Communities: Time to Close the Gap

“…However, there are clearly multiple candidates such as: remoteness and inability to travel, excessive cost of treatment or travel, competing health priorities, lack of access to electricity, and language and cultural barriers that limit the ability to educate and understand the need for treatment. 9 High rates of mental health disorders such as depression could also impact on the ability of indigenous people to access sleep health services. 10 The challenge of poor engagement with sleep medicine services following diagnosis is exacerbated by poorer adherence with CPAP treatment, even in those who do attend for review.…”

Are general practitioners getting the information they need from hospitals and specialists to provide quality cancer care for Indigenous Australians?

“…7,8 In high-income countries with universal healthcare systems, there is increasing acceptance of the role of GP in cancer care. 21 Cancer is the second leading cause of death for Indigenous Australians. [17][18][19] Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia (respectfully referred to here as Indigenous Australians) comprise 3% of the total Australian population, 20 and experience socioeconomic and health disparities.…”