scholarly journals Holistic primary health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners: exploring the role of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 538-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Pettit ◽  
Paul Simpson ◽  
Jocelyn Jones ◽  
Megan Williams ◽  
M. Mofizul Islam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Aboriginal Community ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Torres Strait

scholarly journals Aboriginal community-controlled aged care: principles, practices and actions to integrate with primary health care

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Dawson ◽  
Stephen Harfield ◽  
Carol Davy ◽  
Anna Baker ◽  
Elaine Kite ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Aboriginal Community ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Torres Strait

Abstract Aim: To identify: 1) best practice aged care principles and practices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander older peoples, and 2) actions to integrate aged care services with Aboriginal community-controlled primary health care. Background: There is a growing number of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and an unmet demand for accessible, culturally safe aged care services. The principles and features of aged care service delivery designed to meet the unique needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have not been extensively explored and must be understood to inform aged care policy and primary health care planning into the future. Methods: The research was governed by leaders from across the Aboriginal community-controlled primary health care sector who identified exemplar services to explore best practice in culturally aligned aged care. In-depth case studies were undertaken with two metropolitan Aboriginal community-controlled services. We conducted semi-structured interviews and yarning circles with 46 staff members to explore key principles, ways of working, enablers and challenges for aged care service provision. A framework approach to thematic analysis was undertaken with emergent findings reviewed and refined by participating services and the governance panel to incorporate national perspectives. Findings: A range of principles guided Aboriginal community-controlled aged care service delivery, such as supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity, connection with elders and communities and respect for self-determination. Strong governance, effective leadership and partnerships, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce and culturally safe non-Indigenous workforce were among the identified enablers of aged care. Nine implementation actions guided the integration of aged care with primary health care service delivery. Funding limitations, workforce shortages, change management processes and difficulties with navigating the aged care system were among the reported challenges. These findings contribute to an evidence base regarding accessible, integrated, culturally safe aged care services tailored to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Community midwifery: a primary health care approach to care during pregnancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Ailsa Munns
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Liaison Officer ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Comprehensive Primary Health Care ◽  
Torres Strait

Comprehensive primary health care is integral to meaningful client-centred care, with nurses and midwives central to partnership approaches with individuals, families and communities. A primary health model of antenatal care is needed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in rural and remote areas, where complex social determinants of health impact on pregnancy outcomes, early years and lifelong health. Staff experiences from a community midwifery-led antenatal program in a remote Western Australian setting were explored, with the aim of investigating program impacts from health service providers’ perspectives. Interviews with 19 providers, including community midwives, child health nurses, program managers, a liaison officer, doctors and community agency staff, examined elements comprising a culturally safe community antenatal program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, exploring program benefits and challenges. Thematic analysis derived five themes: Organisational and Accessibility Factors; Culturally Appropriate Support; Staff Availability and Competencies; Collaboration; and Sustainability. The ability of program staff to work in culturally safe partnerships with clients in collaboration with community agencies was essential to building meaningful and sustainable antenatal strategies. Midwifery primary health care competencies were viewed as a strong enabling factor, with potential to reduce health disparities in accordance with Australian Government and research recommendations.

scholarly journals Service Level Factors Associated with Cervical Screening in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Centres in Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (19) ◽  
pp. 3630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbey Diaz ◽  
Brenda Vo ◽  
Peter D. Baade ◽  
Veronica Matthews ◽  
Barbara Nattabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Cervical Screening ◽  
Service Level ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Screening Coverage ◽  
Torres Strait

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have significantly higher cervical cancer incidence and mortality than other Australian women. In this study, we assessed the documented delivery of cervical screening for women attending Indigenous Primary Health Care (PHC) centres across Australia and identified service-level factors associated with between-centre variation in screening coverage. We analysed 3801 clinical audit records for PHC clients aged 20–64 years from 135 Indigenous PHC centres participating in the Audit for Best Practice in Chronic Disease (ABCD) continuous quality improvement (CQI) program across five Australian states/territories during 2005 to 2014. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to identify service-level factors associated with screening, while accounting for differences in client-level factors. There was substantial variation in the proportion of clients who had a documented cervical screen in the previous two years across the participating PHC centres (median 50%, interquartile range (IQR): 29–67%), persisting over years and audit cycle. Centre-level factors explained 40% of the variation; client-level factors did not reduce the between-centre variation. Screening coverage was associated with longer time enrolled in the CQI program and very remote location. Indigenous PHC centres play an important role in providing cervical screening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Thus, their leadership is essential to ensure that Australia’s public health commitment to the elimination of cervical cancer includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. A sustained commitment to CQI may improve PHC centres delivery of cervical screening; however, factors that may impact on service delivery, such as organisational, geographical and environmental factors, warrant further investigation.

scholarly journals Aboriginal community controlled health organisations address health equity through action on the social determinants of health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Pearson ◽  
◽  
K. Schwartzkopff ◽  
A. Dawson ◽  
C. Hagger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Aboriginal Community ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Social ◽  
Torres Strait

Abstract Background Indigenous populations globally are continually striving for better health and wellbeing due to experiencing significant health and social inequities. The social determinants of health are important contributors to health outcomes. Comprehensive primary health care that is governed and delivered by Indigenous people extends beyond the biomedical model of care to address the social determinants of health. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) are known to provide culturally informed, holistic health services that directly and indirectly address the social determinants of health. The range and extent of their activities in addressing the social determinants of health, however, is not well documented. Methods The most recent ACCHO annual reports were retrieved online or by direct correspondence. For coding consistency, a dictionary informed by the World Health Organization’s Conceptual Framework for Action on the Social Determinants of Health was developed. A document and textual analysis of reports coded ACCHO activities and the determinants of health they addressed, including intermediary determinants, socio-economic position and/or socio-political context. Summary statistics were reported. Representative quotes illustrating the unique nature of ACCHO service provision in addressing the social determinants of health were used to contextualise the quantitative findings. Results Sixty-seven annual reports were collected between 2017 and 2018. Programs were delivered to population groups across the life span. Fifty three percent of reports identified programs that included work at the socio-political level and all annual reports described working to improve socioeconomic position and intermediary determinants of health through their activities. Culture had a strong presence in program delivery and building social cohesion and social capital emerged as themes. Conclusions This study provides evidence of the considerable efforts of the ACCHO sector, as a primary health care provider, in addressing the social determinants of health and health inequity experienced by Indigenous communities. For the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, ACCHOs not only have an essential role in addressing immediate healthcare needs but also invest in driving change in the more entrenched structural determinants of health. These are important actions that are likely to have an accumulative positive effect in closing the gap towards health equity.

scholarly journals Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations address health equity through action on the social determinants of health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Odette Pearson ◽  
Kate Schwartzkopff ◽  
Anna Dawson ◽  
Christina Hagger ◽  
Agape Karagi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Aboriginal Community ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Social ◽  
Torres Strait

Abstract Background: Indigenous populations globally are continually striving for better health and wellbeing due to experiencing significant health and social inequities. The social determinants of health are important contributors to health outcomes. Comprehensive primary health care that is governed and delivered by Indigenous people extends beyond the biomedical model of care to address the social determinants of health. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) are known to provide culturally informed, holistic health services that directly and indirectly address the social determinants of health. The range and extent of their activities in addressing the social determinants of health, however, is not well documented. Methods: The most recent ACCHO annual reports were retrieved online or by direct correspondence. For coding consistency, a dictionary informed by the World Health Organization’s Conceptual Framework for Action on the Social Determinants of Health was developed . A document and textual analysis of reports coded ACCHO activities and the determinants of health they addressed, including intermediary determinants, socio-economic position and/or socio-political context. Summary statistics were reported. Representative quotes illustrating the unique nature of ACCHO service provision in addressing the social determinants of health were used to contextualise the quantitative findings. Results: Sixty-seven annual reports were collected between 2017 and 2018. Programs were delivered to population groups across the life span. Fifty three percent of reports identified programs that included work at the socio-political level and all annual reports described working to improve socioeconomic position and intermediary determinants of health through their activities. Culture had a strong presence in program delivery and building social cohesion and social capital emerged as themes. Conclusions: This study provides evidence of the considerable efforts of the ACCHO sector, as a primary health care provider, in addressing the social determinants of health and health inequity experienced by Indigenous communities. For the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, ACCHOs not only have an essential role in addressing immediate healthcare needs but also invest in driving change in the more entrenched structural determinants of health. These are important actions that are likely to have an accumulative positive effect in closing the gap towards health equity.

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