Question

I have to write a research paper about the lack of accessibility to health care service indigenous face in Canada. I must include some of the barriers they face as well as a potential solution.

Answer 1

Abstract

Background

Indigenous peoples often find it difficult to access appropriate mainstream primary health care services. Securing access to primary health care services requires more than just services that are situated within easy reach. Ensuring the accessibility of health care for Indigenous peoples who are often faced with a vast array of additional barriers including experiences of discrimination and racism, can be complex. This framework synthesis aimed to identify issues that hindered Indigenous peoples from accessing primary health care and then explore how, if at all, these were addressed by Indigenous health care services.

Methods

To be included in this framework synthesis papers must have presented findings focused on access to (factors relating to Indigenous peoples, their families and their communities) or accessibility of Indigenous primary health care services.

Results

Issues relating to the cultural and social determinants of health such as unemployment and low levels of education influenced whether Indigenous patients, their families and communities were able to access health care. Indigenous health care services addressed these issues in a number of ways including the provision of transport to and from appointments, a reduction in health care costs for people on low incomes and close consultation with, if not the direct involvement of, community members in identifying and then addressing health care needs.

Conclusions

Barriers to accessing health care for indigenous individuals:

Despite this, Indigenous peoples are often prevented from accessing these types of services due to a range of barriers including

• · High cost of health care,
• · Experiences of discrimination and racism and
• · Poor communication with health care professionals

Indigenous health care services appear to be best placed to overcome both the social and cultural determinants of health which hamper Indigenous peoples from accessing health care. Findings of this synthesis also suggest that Levesque and colleague’s accessibility framework should be broadened to include factors related to the health care system such as funding.

Potential solution to improve health care access:

• Team up with Independent Transportation Network, ITN.
• Use Mobile Clinics to Go to the Patient.
• Work with Congregational Networks to Coordinate Rides.
• Partner with or Co-host Pop-up Clinics.
• Team up with Retail Clinics.
• Work with Student Run Clinics.
• Take care directly to target populations with Co-located Clinics.
• Partner with clinics held in congregations.
• Spread the Word about Covered Services.
• Set up a healthcare access task force with your hospital and other community stakeholders.