Young Aboriginal People's Perspective on Access to Health Care in Remote Australia: Hearing Their Voices

Abstract

Young Aboriginal People's Perspective on Access to Health Care in Remote Australia:Hearing Their Voices Susannah Warwick, MB BS Qld, FRACGP, David Atkinson, MBBS, MPH, Therese Kitaura, EN, Matthew LeLievre, BS, MClinicalExPhysiol, and Julia V Marley, BSc, MHP, PhD, PGDipSc, PGDipPolSt What Is the Purpose of This Study? • To find out what helps and hinders adolescent and young adult Aboriginal people in seeking health care at a remote Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service. • To improve access to health care in this group of young people. What Is the Problem? • Young Australian Aboriginal people experience poor health outcomes but have low use of health care. What Are the Findings? • The young people interviewed valued good communication and relationships with health care staff, and identified that local, long-term Aboriginal staff were best placed to provide this. • Confidentiality was very important to the participants, as well as staff with the same gender as the participants. • Shame was a barrier to seeking health care. • The participants identified that health education and promotion for young people was important. Who Should Care Most? • Community members and primary health care managers who establish primary health facilities for people who are underusing health care services, particularly young people. • Primary health care stakeholders involved in staff recruitment, retention, and training. • Young people who need to access health services. Recommendations for Action • Primary health care providers should be involved in health promotion and education targeted to young people. • Primary health care facilities should be intentional in recruiting, training and retaining appropriate staff to work with young people. • Good communication and strong relationships should be emphasized in the provision of health care services. [End Page 127] Susannah Warwick Rural Clinical School of Western Australia, The University of Western Australia Derby Aboriginal Health Service David Atkinson Rural Clinical School of Western Australia, The University of Western Australia Therese Kitaura Derby Aboriginal Health Service Matthew LeLievre Derby Aboriginal Health Service Current address: North and West Remote Health Julia V Marley Rural Clinical School of Western Australia, The University of Western Australia Copyright © 2019 Johns Hopkins University Press