Are insights from Indigenous health shaping a paradigm shift in health promotion praxis in Australia?

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Crouch ◽  
Patricia Fagan
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Public Funding ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Community Control ◽  
Future Health ◽  
New Approach ◽  
The Social ◽  
Funding Cuts ◽  
Policy Shifts

Health promotion really is at a cross-road. Traditionally guided by the Ottawa Charter, it has been thought of as principle-guided actions, processes and technique, as well as outcomes or results. Health promotion has been characterised by its products and some even call it theory. In Australia, public funding for health promotion has, for many years, shaped its practice into behaviour change interventions. However, governments around the country are reconsidering their investments, evidenced by ideologically motivated policy shifts and associated substantial funding cuts. Recently, themes of empowerment, community control and community agency have emerged as new directions for future health promotion praxis and reports of activism-based approaches that seek to mobilise community energies around sexual health inequity have started to appear in the literature. Noting parallel developments in the social determinants and social change discourses, this paper posits that cutting edge health promotion efforts by Indigenous communities in Australia are shaping a new approach with potentially global application.

scholarly journals Scabies and bacterial skin infections at a molecular level

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 177
Author(s):  
Katja Fischer ◽  
David J Kemp
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Skin Infections ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Social Dimensions ◽  
Molecular Approaches ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
The Social ◽  
Australian Community ◽  
Bacterial Skin Infections

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are nearly 20 times more likely to die from acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) than individuals from the wider Australian community. ARF and RHD as well as high rates of renal disease have been clearly linked to scabies infestations as the major driving force of streptococcal pyoderma in children of Indigenous communities, underlying 50 to 70% of all skin infections. In addition, patients are facing mite resistance against current anti-scabetic therapeutics. Community-based initiatives have been recently expanding and today form the major existing body of knowledge surrounding scabies. Critical biological questions, however, remain unanswered, due to the lack of biomedical research in the area. In the context of the current failure to overcome the social dimensions of Indigenous health issues, molecular approaches that have only now become possible may well lead to vaccines or other clinical interventions and hence to an improvement of the situation.

scholarly journals Policy Implications for Controlling Communicable Diseases in Indigenous Communities: Case of Strongyloidiasis in Australia

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Miller ◽  
Michelle L Smith ◽  
Jenni A Judd ◽  
Rick Speare
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Strongyloides Stercoralis ◽  
Institutional Racism ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Prevention Policy

The objective of this paper is to document the knowledge and experiences of healthcare professionals and researchers in Australia about the barriers to controlling Strongyloides stercoralis in Australian Indigenous communities. Qualitative research methods were used to conduct in-depth semi-structured interviews, which were digitally recorded, transcribed, and participant-checked. Data were thematically analysed to identify significant themes. Five major themes were identified:1)    Barriers to health/treatment;2)    Access to healthcare;3)    Policy;4)    Learning opportunity; and5)    Ideas for intervention.The findings suggest that Australian Indigenous communities will continue to suffer increased morbidity and mortality due to a lack of control or prevention of Strongyloides stercoralis. Issues such as institutional racism, improvements to health promotion, education, socioeconomic determinants, and health care system policy and procedures need to be addressed. This study identifies several direct implications for Indigenous health:The need for increased knowledge and understanding of the risks to health for Indigenous community members;The need for prevention policy development for neglected tropical diseases in Indigenous communities;The need for increased knowledge and understanding of the treatment, diagnosis, and healthcare access concerning Strongyloides stercoralis for health professionals and policymakers who work within Indigenous health;The need to raise awareness of systematic institutional racism in the control and prevention of neglected tropical diseases in Indigenous communities; andThe need for a health promotion framework that can provide the basis for multiple-level interventions to control and prevent Strongyloides in Indigenous communities.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and the role of health promoters and educators

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
James Woodall
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Medical Model ◽  
Professional Group ◽  
Social Model ◽  
Community Control ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
The Social ◽  
Settings Approach ◽  
Future Strategy

The role of health promoters and educators in the current and future response to COVID-19 is critical, but, to date, under explored. This opinion paper offers a number of important contributions that this professional group may offer both in the immediate and future strategy of global public health. While the importance of a medical model of health cannot be underplayed, the social model of health suggests that some groups in society are being more disproportionately impacted than others. Health promotion has been committed to reducing inequalities and therefore offers ‘a voice’ to those most marginalised. The paper suggests that bottom-up approaches focusing on building individual and community control is essential and, moreover, the concepts of a settings approach in health promotion, the fostering of critical health literacy and ‘salutogenesis’ may be worthy of further debate and discussion.

scholarly journals Using Black Feminist Theory and Methods to Uncover Best Practices in Health Promotion Programming

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232110611
Author(s):  
Jeannette Wade ◽  
Ramine Alexander ◽  
Cheryl Woods Giscombé ◽  
Daniel Keegan ◽  
Sharon Parker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Feminist Theory ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Black Feminist Theory ◽  
Black American ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Black Feminist ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health Promotion Programs

This study was created to uncover the social determinants of Black American women’s success in health promotion programs. We used the Superwoman Schema to understand the complexities of Black womanhood and uncover best practices in the promotion of their health. The sample consisted of women ages 18–25 who attend a large southern HBCU. We collected data using qualitative focus groups. Participants reported the greatest health-related concerns Black American women facing are mental health, obesity, and relationships with Black men. When it comes to health promotion programs, respondents reported a desire for classes that are fun, interactive, informative, educational, and include group interaction, accessible, and incentivize participation. Uncovering the social determinants of Black American women’s health and program success is central in decreasing extant health disparities. Future health scholars are urged to incorporate Black feminist theory and methods into their work to create health promotion interventions tailored for Black women.

scholarly journals Enhancing Indigenous health research capacity in northern Ontario through distributed community engaged medical education at NOSM: A qualitative evaluation of the community engagement through research pilot program

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e21-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion Maar ◽  
Lisa Boesch ◽  
Sheldon Tobe
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Social Accountability ◽  
Community Based ◽  
The Social

Background: The Community Engagement Through Research (CETR) program matches Indigenous communities interested in exploring their own health research questions with NOSM learners seeking experience in health services research, supervised by faculty experienced in community-based participatory research.Methods: Qualitative research was conducted using key informant interviews to examine outcomes of the matching of medical students with Indigenous distributed medical education (DME) communities in NOSM’s distributed curriculum, in particular improvements for capacity for Indigenous health research in Northern Ontario.Results: Interviews showed that community-centred research was appreciated by community, students and faculty and the social accountability aspect was acknowledged.  Students and community members found meaning in the immediate applicability of the research to real community problems and felt inspired by it. The challenges that were identified were mainly related to time and resource constraints, including providing sufficient research training for learners, and the time period required for research ethics board approvals.  Conclusions: The program successfully brought together communities interested in conducting their own health research, with medical students interested in learning about and conducting health research with Indigenous communities. It is therefore an example of successful community based participatory research supporting the social accountability mandate. Challenges are mainly administrative in nature. The program has the potential to be scalable and financially sustainable. 

scholarly journals From controlling to connecting: M’Wikwedong as a place of urban Indigenous health promotion in Canada

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos E Sanchez-Pimienta ◽  
Jeff Masuda
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Digital Storytelling ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Indigenous Leadership ◽  
Digital Stories ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
Primary Basis ◽  
The City

Abstract In recent years, health promotion has come under critique for being framed according to the contexts and priorities of Western communities, with the notion of ‘control’ underpinning much of its theoretical and practical development. Ceding space to Indigenous voices and knowledge is one way forward to overcoming this limitation and decolonizing the field. This paper reports on insights gained from a participatory digital storytelling project focused on Indigenous health promotion that took place at M’Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre in the city of Owen Sound, Canada. The research team was formed by M’Wikwedong’s Executive Director, five Indigenous youth and two university researchers. We co-created data through an 8-month digital storytelling process that involved 13 weekly research meetings, the creation of 4 digital stories and video screenings. We analysed data from seven group interview transcriptions, field notes and video transcripts through qualitative coding and theme building. The four themes we identified speak to the ways M’Wikwedong reinforced connections to youth, their sense of self, place in the city and Indigenous cultures. From our findings, we theorize that egalitarianism of knowledge, restoring balance in relationships and Indigenous leadership are core components of an ‘ethos of connection’ that underlies Indigenous health promotion. The ‘ethos of connection’ challenges Western notions of ‘control’ and brings attention to the unique expertise and practices of urban Indigenous communities and organizations as a primary basis for health promotion.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and the role of health promoters and educators

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
James Woodall
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Medical Model ◽  
Professional Group ◽  
Social Model ◽  
Community Control ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
The Social ◽  
Settings Approach ◽  
Future Strategy

The role of health promoters and educators in the current and future response to COVID-19 is critical, but, to date, under explored. This opinion paper offers a number of important contributions that this professional group may offer both in the immediate and future strategy of global public health. While the importance of a medical model of health cannot be underplayed, the social model of health suggests that some groups in society are being more disproportionately impacted than others. Health promotion has been committed to reducing inequalities and therefore offers ‘a voice’ to those most marginalised. The paper suggests that bottom-up approaches focusing on building individual and community control is essential and, moreover, the concepts of a settings approach in health promotion, the fostering of critical health literacy and ‘salutogenesis’ may be worthy of further debate and discussion.

THE THE INDIGENOUS IDENTITY INTERPRETED AS A CATEGORY OF ANALYSIS IN POPULATION STUDIES

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (Especial) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Dante Choque-Caseres
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Indigenous Identity ◽  
Critical Thought ◽  
Northern Border ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Government ◽  
New Research

In Latin America, based on the recognition of Indigenous Peoples, the identification of gaps or disparities between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous population has emerged as a new research interest. To this end, capturing Indigenous identity is key to conducting certain analyses. However, the social contexts where the identity of Indigenous persons are (re)produced has been significantly altered. These changes are generated by the assimilation or integration of Indigenous communities into dominant national cultures. Within this context, limitations emerge in the use of this category, since Indigenous identity has a political and legal component related to the needs of the government. Therefore, critical thought on the use of Indigenous identity is necessary in an epistemological and methodological approach to research. This article argues that research about Indigenous Peoples should evaluate how Indigenous identity is included, for it is socially co-produced through the interaction of the State and its institutions. Thus, it would not necessarily constitute an explicative variable. By analyzing the discourse about Aymara Indigenous communities that has emerged in the northern border of Chile, this paper seeks to expose the logic used to define identity. Therefore, I conclude that the process of self-identification arises in supposed Indigenous people, built and/or reinforced by institutions, which should be reviewed from a decolonizing perspective and included in comparative research.

Reproductive Healthcare Beliefs and Behaviours Among Displaced Tribal Communities in Odisha and Chhattisgarh: An Analysis Using Health Belief Model

2021 ◽  
pp. 2277436X2110059
Author(s):  
Madhulika Sahoo ◽  
Jalandhar Pradhan
Keyword(s):  
Health Belief Model ◽  
Cultural Distance ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
Health Belief ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Tribal Communities ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
Belief Model ◽  
Reproductive Healthcare

The modern healthcare system often experiences difficulties in understanding and providing care to indigenous communities. This is mainly because of the cultural distance between mainstream healing methods and indigenous health belief systems. The Lancet series (2006) on indigenous health discussed the integration of Western and traditional health practices and identified the importance of this integration for betterment of the human world. To understand what health and health care signify to tribal communities in India, it is necessary to examine the whole social system and the beliefs and behaviours related to their culture that provides meaning to people. This study examines the traditional medicinal practices and socio-cultural healthcare beliefs and behaviours of diplaced tribal communities in Odisha and Chattisgarh. The current study has used the health belief model (HBM) to examine the perceived susceptibility and severity of diseases among tribal communities, pertaining to their reproductive healthcare beliefs and practices.

scholarly journals Art during tough times: reflections from an art-based health promotion initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 175797592199863
Author(s):  
Ilhan Abdullahi ◽  
Navneet Kaur Chana ◽  
Marco Zenone ◽  
Paola Ardiles
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Health Inequities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Art Museum ◽  
Political Context ◽  
The Social ◽  
Promotion Strategies ◽  
Health Promotion Initiative

With the current COVID-19 pandemic impacting communities across the globe, diverse health promotion strategies are required to address the wide-ranging challenges we face. Art is a highly engaging tool that promotes positive well-being and increases community engagement and participation. The ‘Create Hope Mural’ campaign emerged as an arts-based health promotion response to inspire dialogue on why hope is so important for Canadians during these challenging times. This initiative is a partnership between a health promotion network based in Vancouver and an ‘open air’ art museum based in Toronto. Families were invited to submit artwork online that represents the concept of hope. This paper discusses the reflections of organizers of this arts-based health promotion initiative during the early months of the pandemic in Canada. Our findings reveal the importance of decolonizing practices, centring the voices of those impacted by crisis, while being attentive to the social and political context. These learnings can be adopted by prospective health promoters attempting to use arts-based methods to address social and health inequities.

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