Logo image
Back
Qualitative study of psychosocial factors impacting on Aboriginal women's management of chronic disease
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Qualitative study of psychosocial factors impacting on Aboriginal women's management of chronic disease

A Eades, M L Hackett, H Liu, A Brown, J Coffin and A Cass
International journal for equity in health, Vol.19(8)
2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-019-1110-3
PMCID: PMC6958573
PMID: 31931810
pdf
psychosocial factors impacting on Aboriginal women’s management of chronic disease546.44 kBDownloadView
Published (Version of Record)CC BY V4.0,  Open Access
url
psychosocial factors impacting on Aboriginal women’s management of chronic disease View
Published (Version of Record)CC BY V4.0,  Open

Abstract

Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Australia Chronic Disease - ethnology Chronic Disease - therapy Female Health Services, Indigenous Humans Middle Aged Oceanic Ancestry Group - psychology Oceanic Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data Qualitative Research Self Care - psychology
Background: Aboriginal women are frequently called upon to support their families and other community members. At times, such supporting roles can be burdensome for these women. Many Aboriginal women live with chronic conditions. We explored the ways in which the women's caring roles impacted on how they maintained their own health. Methods: The aim of this manuscript is to explore the psychosocial factors associated with the management of health and chronic disease in Aboriginal women. An interpretive phenomenological approach was used for the analysis of 72 in-depth semi-structured interviews. These interviews were conducted in four community controlled Aboriginal health services, in urban, rural and remote settings, across two states and a territory in Australia. Results: Women living with chronic disease experience multiple challenges while caring for family, such as intergenerational trauma, mental health issues relating to addiction, domestic and family violence and incarceration. When these women become ill, they also have to take care of themselves. These women provided informal and unfunded care in response to a range of complex family and community problems. This continuous caring for family affected the women's ability to maintain their health and manage their own chronic conditions. Conclusion: The caring roles and responsibilities Aboriginal women have in their community impact on their health. Aboriginal women provide much needed refuge and support to family and the wider community. Underfunded and over-burdened formal support services are not meeting the needs of many Aboriginal women. Improved culturally secure resources and social services are required within communities to support Aboriginal women to successfully manage their own health.

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#10 Reduced Inequalities

Source: InCites

Metrics

50 File views/ downloads
46 Record Views
13 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.156 Healthcare Policy
1.156.436 Health Inequities
Web Of Science research areas
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
ESI research areas
Social Sciences, general
Logo image