Qualitative study of psychosocial factors impacting on Aboriginal women’s management of chronic disease
Abstract 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 impacte...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-019-1110-3 |
| _version_ | 1818430718306418688 |
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| author | A. Eades M. L. Hackett H. Liu A. Brown J. Coffin A. Cass |
| author_facet | A. Eades M. L. Hackett H. Liu A. Brown J. Coffin A. Cass |
| author_sort | A. Eades |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:37:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-81f6fc4536e84c348cd3ad885997f559 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-9276 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:37:52Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-81f6fc4536e84c348cd3ad885997f5592022-12-21T22:55:41ZengBMCInternational Journal for Equity in Health1475-92762020-01-011911810.1186/s12939-019-1110-3Qualitative study of psychosocial factors impacting on Aboriginal women’s management of chronic diseaseA. Eades0M. L. Hackett1H. Liu2A. Brown3J. Coffin4A. Cass5The George Institute for Global Health, The University of New South WalesThe George Institute for Global Health, The University of New South WalesThe George Institute for Global Health, The University of New South WalesSouth Australian Health & Medical Research InstituteTelethon Kids Institute Australian Medical Research InstituteMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin UniversityAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-019-1110-3Aboriginal womenChronic diseaseHealthSocial determinants of healthIntergenerationalIncarceration |
| spellingShingle | A. Eades M. L. Hackett H. Liu A. Brown J. Coffin A. Cass Qualitative study of psychosocial factors impacting on Aboriginal women’s management of chronic disease International Journal for Equity in Health Aboriginal women Chronic disease Health Social determinants of health Intergenerational Incarceration |
| title | Qualitative study of psychosocial factors impacting on Aboriginal women’s management of chronic disease |
| title_full | Qualitative study of psychosocial factors impacting on Aboriginal women’s management of chronic disease |
| title_fullStr | Qualitative study of psychosocial factors impacting on Aboriginal women’s management of chronic disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Qualitative study of psychosocial factors impacting on Aboriginal women’s management of chronic disease |
| title_short | Qualitative study of psychosocial factors impacting on Aboriginal women’s management of chronic disease |
| title_sort | qualitative study of psychosocial factors impacting on aboriginal women s management of chronic disease |
| topic | Aboriginal women Chronic disease Health Social determinants of health Intergenerational Incarceration |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-019-1110-3 |
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