Aust Fam Physician
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This paper seeks to identify some of the significant health issues for Aboriginal people and the obstacles they often encounter in assessing the medical system. Clearly, the latter largely result from problems in communication, which can be addressed by seeking to establish good relationships. Whether the Aboriginal patients live in a traditional or remote community, a rural country area, or a large urban setting, an understanding of their conceptualization of their conditions can greatly enhance the communication process. Mobbs points out that this not only improves the clinical encounter, it also helps to overcome barriers of mistrust, misunderstanding and anxiety between the client and the professional.
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Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory suffer health problems similar to children in Third World countries. The major problems are malnutrition, diarrhoeal disease and respiratory tract infections. Infections in all systems are common and low birth weight due in significant part to poor growth in utero is a major problem in the newborn period.
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For Aboriginals, matters relating to reproduction are private and the preserve of women alone. At least one factor contributing to the high maternal and perinatal mortality in Aboriginals is the cultural inappropriateness of current health services. Future planning of maternal health services will be more effective if cultural imperatives of Aboriginal women are made a priority.