Question

What are some strengths we could use while delivering health care in Aboriginal community?

Answer 1

Strengths that a Healthcare professional can use while delivering the Healthcare to the Aboriginal community:

Aboriginal refers to First according to historical or scientific records or the people who were living in the land before colonization by the Europeans.

Healthcare professionals should use certain strengths or skills to deliver the Healthcare services effectively. Because they may be different in their language, culture, behaviour and health beliefs etc. Some of the skills or strengths are:

* Properly identify their health needs

* Respect and value their culture: healthcare professionals should respect their culture, not just pretending, but really value their culture in hearts, then only one can genuinely serve them.

* Use appropriate language: know their language to communicate with them, otherwise use an interpreter from their community. Do not mimic the Aboriginal language or Aboriginal English.

* Use of appropriate body language. In certain culture touching the oppsite gender ( shaking hands and hugging) is restricted and   Direct eye contact is not comfortable .

* Build an effective Communication or rapport with them, welcome them warmly.  

* Participate them also in planning the intervention.

* Heath worker should be familiarise with the areas that they are working .

* Connect with the Aboriginal staffs and get information from them.

* should be knowledgeable enough through literature search regarding the culture and health beliefs of the particular culture.

* Show respect to elders especially

* Allow men to talk with men and women to talk with women, if possible.

* Attend any functions or fairs that you are invited.

* Seek and find some key people of their community to engage with.