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Toward an understanding of the poor health status of indigenous Australian men
Mellor, David McCabe, Marita Ricciardelli, Lina A. Mussap, Alexander J. Tyler, Matthew
Mellor, David
McCabe, Marita
Ricciardelli, Lina A.
Mussap, Alexander J.
Tyler, Matthew
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of health and health behaviors among Indigenous Australian men. Using a participatory action research (PAR) framework, we conducted two focus groups and 40 individual semi-structured interviews with men between the ages of 18 and 35 years in each of three locations across Australia. We used the health beliefs model to provide a framework for the analyses. Participants recognized that their Indigenous status placed them in a vulnerable position with regard to health, and that there might be serious consequences of failing to follow a good diet and engage in appropriate exercise. However, they delineated a number of barriers to engaging in such health behaviors. These perceived barriers require addressing at a range of policy levels within government, with a focus on social structures and institutionalized discrimination, as well as unemployment, poverty, dispossession, and cultural oppression.
Keywords
Aboriginal people, Australia, men’s health, health behavior, participatory action research
Date
2016
Type
Journal article
Journal
Qualitative Health Research
Book
Volume
26
Issue
14
Page Range
1949-1960
Article Number
ACU Department
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled