write an Indigenous health issue, the impact that this health issue has on Indigenous peoples and identify programs for achieving better health outcomes

Health Issues of Indigenous Australians 1
Introduction
The paper examines and outlines the fundamental historical contexts as well as
contributing elements that have primarily lead to the existing disparity within the health of the
Indigenous Australians compared to the non-Indigenous Australians. Also, the higher prevalence
of the chronic health problems like diabetes would be analyzed along with discussing the
community related health initiatives that would be required or are currently being prevalent
would be identified. The WHO (World Health Organization) states that the indigenous
population of Australia is currently one of the highly disadvantaged indigenous groups within the
entire developed world (World Health Organization, 2008). The health factors of this Indigenous
population of the country have been an increasingly persisting issue. Current researches as well
as statistics have revealed high level of inequality within a lot of areas of the health care as well
as health status among the Aboriginal people and the normal population of Australia.
Analysis
1.0 Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition which can result in many major long term
health complications such as stroke, kidney disease, blindness and greatly reduced life
expectancy (Allman, 2008, p. 80, Zeng, 2006, p. 73). Diabetes can be classified into three main
types, with the second type, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) the main form
developed as a result of lifestyle factors. As reported by Thomson et. al. (2010, para. 2), NIDDM
can currently be considered as “one of the highly primary health issue for the Indigenous
Health Issues of Indigenous Australians 2
populations across the Australians”, with nearly around half of those with their condition
knowing that they have it, and this proportion of the affected Indigenous population in Australia
is estimated to be nearly around 4 times compared to that of the general Australian population.
Couzos et. al. (2008, p. 525) expand that Aboriginal people are also significantly more likely to
develop NIDDM at a much younger age, more likely to be hospitalized, and to die from
associated complications. This over representation of diabetes in the Indigenous population is a
result of their poor health status and education.
Thomson et. al. (2010) reported that many studies have linked high levels of obesity among
Indigenous populations and high prevalence of NIDDM. The main factors linked to these high
levels of obesity are the relatively recent availability of highly processed and sugary Western
foods and drinks including alcohol and tobacco use, impaired glucose tolerance,
hypertriglyceridaemia, hypertension, hyperinsulinaemia and a higher level of physical inactivity
than non-Indigenous people (Thomson et. al. 2010).
2.0 Social Determinants of Health
Diabetes prevalence is also linked to a lower socioeconomic status, and as previously
examined, a high proportion of the Indigenous population suffer from many areas of
disadvantage, which results in a lower socioeconomic status. As further explained by Thomson
et. al. (2010) these effects are further aggravated by poor health promotion and knowledge,
mental illness and stress, early emotional development and social status, and recent trends
indicate increasing development and prevalence of NIDDM....