Aboriginal Status and Health

Term Paper # 101002

Canadian Studies > Gender, Race, Class issues
Canadian Studies > Government and Government Policy
Medical and Health

This paper explores four social determinants of health that affect the Aboriginal population of Canada.

2,425 words () | 1 source | APA | 2008 | United States

Published on: Feb 15, 2008

Paper Summary:

The paper examines Aboriginal status, income, gender and social exclusion as social determinants of health that affect the Aboriginal population. The paper shows how these social determinants of health interact to ensure that the Aboriginal communities have the very worst social and economic conditions in Canada, as well as few resources. The paper outlines policy options to improve the quality of these social determinants of health and discusses the barriers to implementation of these policies.

Outline:
Introduction
Aboriginal Status
Income
Pathways
Social Exclusion
Gender
Policy Options for Improvement
Barriers to Implementation of Policy Options
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Aboriginal peoples live in physical, socioeconomic, and psycho-social environments which determine that they will not live healthy lifestyles and will have very poor health status. Aboriginal status refers to how Aboriginal people are classified under the Indian Act. The term 'status Indian' has a special legal meaning and involves "certain privileges to be compensated for having relinquished certain land rights" (Raphael, 2004, p. 267). As a result of colonization, Aboriginal peoples have lost land, cultural heritage, religion, and language, but mainly they have lost their autonomy. The consequences are observed in the poor physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and cultural health of these people. The nature of the socioeconomic environment ensues that the health status of these people will be poor."