Yarning about ‘that heart problem’: RHD in pregnancy

This is a case study drawn from the experiences of two women who participated in the study. ‘Sylvia’ is a pseudonym to represent the shared lived experiences of some Aboriginal NT women with RHD during their pregnancy

Rheumatic heart disease in pregnancy: How can health services adapt to the needs of Indigenous women? A qualitative study

Objectives: To study rheumatic heart disease health literacy and its impact on pregnancy, and to identify how health services could more effectively meet the needs of pregnant women with rheumatic heart disease. Materials and methods: Researchers observed and interviewed a small number of Aboriginal women and their families during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum as they interacted with the health system. An Aboriginal Yarning method of relationship building over time, participant observations and interviews with Aboriginal women were used in the study. The settings were urban, island and remote communities across the Northern Territory. Women were followed interstate if they were transferred during pregnancy. The participants were pregnant women and their families. We relied on participants’ abilities to tell their own experiences so that researchers could interpret their understanding and perspective of rheumatic heart disease. Results: Aboriginal women and their families rarely had rheumatic heart disease explained appropriately by health staff and therefore lacked understanding of the severity of their illness and its implications for childbearing. Health directives in written and spoken English with assumed biomedical knowledge were confusing and of limited use when delivered without interpreters or culturally appropriate health supports. Conclusions: Despite previous studies documenting poor communication and culturally inadequate care, health systems did not meet the needs of pregnant Aboriginal women with rheumatic heart disease. Language‐appropriate health education that promotes a shared understanding should be relevant to the gender, life‐stage and social context of women with rheumatic heart disease

Beyond 2020: Addressing racism through transformative Indigenous health and cultural safety education

The 2020 International Year of the Nurse and Midwife has harshly revealed the need to increase the nursing and midwifery workforce and for the disciplines to invest in anti-racism initiatives. The World Health Organization (WHO) (2020) has called for a marked increase in the numbers of nurses and midwives, academics and students. However, to ensure the cultural safety of patients and staff, WHO (2020) stated this increase in workforce must include clinicians and educators from underrepresented populations, in particular Indigenous populations. Stemming from our experiences as First Nations nurses, midwives, practitioners, researchers, educators and allies, this editorial outlines our agenda to reform Indigenous health and cultural safety curricula in Australian higher education institutions